Tag Archives: wine

REFULFILLING.RACKING

So cold stabilization by ice water, did it work? After a week, a fair amount of sediment has built up. But is it just yeasts and solids or the holy grail of wine manipulation: tartrate crystals? Time to rack the … Continue reading

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Chateau Frank, Blanc de Blancs, Finger Lakes, NY 2006

New York sparkling wine might sound oximoronic. But some of the best places for bubbly are cold and miserable. Take the region of Champagne, for example. It sits around latitude 49. The average temperature is 50. The Finger Lakes are … Continue reading

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FAUX.STABILIZATION

Cold stabilization: refuge of the weak-willed winemaker. Simply chill the wine to near freezing temperatures for a few weeks. It should sink haze and lower tartaric acid and potassium, which means better stability along the bottle’s journey to the shelf. … Continue reading

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POST.EXPLOSION

There is not a moment to lose. The yeasts are now on their last reproductive leg. The  violent stabilization via a sorbate/metabisulphite cocktail should have worked. But I need to make sure the yeasts stay asleep for good. With the … Continue reading

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NATURAL.SELECTION

After blowing up my wine, followed by breakfast, I go to the fridge. Inside, the remaining half-gallon of vignoles juice awaits me. I need to top off the carboy again, now that the carpet is wearing wine. But then… This … Continue reading

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