Tag: maceration

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Carbonic Maceration of Wine Grapes

Carbonic maceration is a unique method of fermenting grapes into wine. While it doesn’t completely ferment all of the sugar into alcohol, it does impart a unique character on the wine.

Whole grape clusters are used in carbonic maceration.What makes this method of fermentation so different is that you begin with whole, unbroken grape clusters still on the stems. The grapes are then placed in a sealed fermentation container filled with carbon dioxide. Continue reading “Carbonic Maceration of Wine Grapes”

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Maceration of Wine Must

Simply put maceration is the process of soaking crushed grapes, seeds, and stems in a wine must to extract color and aroma compounds as well as tannins. This is where red wines get their color and tannins and it is the lack of maceration that makes white wines so light in color and nearly tannin free.

Maceration is key to extracting the color, aromas, and tannins for red wines.
Punching down the cap during a red wine maceration.

There are actually several different types of maceration processes. The three most common are the extended maceration, cold soak, and carbonic maceration. Carbonic maceration is a bit different from the other two and will be discussed only briefly. Continue reading “Maceration of Wine Must”