1

Chaptalisation

Chaptalisation is the process of adding sugar to fermenting grape juice or must, enriching it to increase the final alcohol of the wine.

Chief Wine Hacker

« Back to Wine Words Index

Chaptalisation is the process of adding sugar to fermenting grape juice or must, enriching it to increase the final alcohol of the wine. Wine and food laws permitting chaptalisation vary from country to country and region to region. In most countries chaptalisation is carried using cane sugar. In Australia it is only permitted to use grape juice concentrate. This is typically made from high yield neutral varieties grown in the Riverland and will come in liquid form thicker than honey at concentration of around 70% sugar. It is common practice for winemakers who chaptalise in Australia to use cane sugar to avoid the flavours, aroma and other undesirable components that come in grape juice concentrate.

Synonyms:
Chaptalize, Chaptalization, Chaptalise, Crystal Sunshine
« Back to Wine Words Index

Feeling Thirsty?

Vajra Langhe Nebbiolo 2021

Nebbiolo | Piedmont, Barolo

The Perfect Way to Get an Early Read on the 2021 Vintage! Vajra make such a pretty Langhe Neb. Playful with a little serious undertone. The 2021 is looking very good, perfumed, floral, fine & harmonised. Excellent flow and shape. Love the zip on the acid , the development and florals. Beautifully weighted with fine tannins of quality wrapping an excellent core of fruit. Great drinking. The magic 8 ball thinks Vintage 2021 will be tasty! This wine is our quest for the innocence of Nebbio
$56
$53ea in any 3+
$50ea in any 6+
Add to cart
More Info
Only 1,000 Bottles!
There’s a little something savoury in the mix, the tannins here whilst more pronounced are not at all in the way. Like the rest Arina and San Lorenzo this is an example of putting the fruit first. A little darker in flavours than the San Lorenzo. Yet not dramatically so. A large cru in the appellation, at around 650m, but Giuseppe has a very special parcel less than than 1 ha in size, with 100+-year-old bush vines. Dark mature profound fruit, balsamic notes, and velvety tannins as the
$130
$125ea in any 3+
$120ea in any 6+
Add to cart
More Info

Swinney Mourvèdre 2021

Mourvèrdre | West Australia, Australia

Mouvèdre is more often seen as a blending component offering a superb perfume of violets and flowers, structured tannins yet not necessarily the overt fruit making it a perfect fit in a Grenache Shiraz Mouvèdre. Although I didn't get to try this wine the 2021 Swinney Mouvèdre demonstrated why a stand-alone version from this Frankland River version works. Australian wine often has opulent sweet fruit that needs taming, in this instance the fruit gives their Mouvèdre the missing link to making
$48
$45ea in any 3+
$42ea in any 6+
Add to cart
More Info

Conti Costanti Brunello di Montalcino 2019

Sangiovese | Tuscany, Italy

Lustrous ruby. Concentrated fruit with minerally notes and grows increasingly complex in the glass. Full yet elegant on the palate with finely chiselled tannins. Breathtaking balance. Simply gorgeous, but far from ready. Montalcino nobility. Walter Speller, Jancis Robinson 18+ Points KO 100 DC 100 EG 96 ML 94
$285
$270ea in any 3+
$255ea in any 6+
Add to cart
More Info