1

Glycerol

Glycerol is an alcohol produced by yeast during alcoholic fermentation of wine grapes. The amount produced depends on the yeast or mix of yeast fermenting the wine.
Glycerol main impact is on the mouthfeel and perceived weight of the wine. The mouthfeel tends to be a little more luscious and the perceived weight increases as the amount of glycerol increases.

Chief Wine Hacker

« Back to Wine Words Index

Glycerol is an alcohol produced by yeast during alcoholic fermentation of wine grapes. The amount produced depends on the yeast or mix of yeast fermenting the wine.

Glycerol production by yeast typically increases when they are under stress.

Glycerol main impact is on the mouthfeel and perceived weight of the wine. The mouthfeel tends to be a little more luscious and the perceived weight increases as the amount of glycerol increase.

The amount of glycerol in wine ranges from a few grams per litre, upto 10g/L in dry wine and as much as 20g/l in a sweet botrytis wine. That’s a fraction of the 120-150g/l of total alcohol.

Glycerol is the 3rd most-produced bi-product of fermentation after ethanol and carbon dioxide.

 

« Back to Wine Words Index

Feeling Thirsty?

Medium Dry - 60-80g/l

Pereira D’Oliveiras Verdlho Frasqueira 1986

Verdlho | Portugal, Madeira

Really decadent, voluptuous nose, heaps of deep dried fruit concentration, golden treacly richness with a vegetal lining, marmalade and billy tea for complexity and relief from density. Typical Verdelho plush citric mouth-feel, and typical buzzing acid relief. Delicately round with toffee sweetness cut by zippy fruit-skin tartness and electro-tingle acidity. Scott Wasley, The Spanish Acquisition Bottled 2013
$492
$472ea in any 3+
$452ea in any 6+
Add to cart
More Info
The 2018 Volnay Les Santenots 1er Cru has a well-defined but stubbornly backward bouquet; perhaps this cuvée is beginning to close down as Moreau’s cellar cools in the winter. The palate is more expressive, offering chunky black fruit and even more peppery than the La Cardeuse due to the 50% whole bunch, although personally I might have dialed that down a little, as I find the finish a bit too stemmy at the moment. Neal Martin
$240
$233ea in any 3+
$226ea in any 6+
Add to cart
More Info
A delicious Jalouise. Quince and Fejoa with a little baking spice. Building in depth with decent length in the glass. Textural phenolics play nicely with chalky acid complexed by hazelnut and crème pat from lees. Vivacious and refreshing. It’ll be lovely to see this fill out with a little more bottle age. Lemon oil and zest at play. Let it warm a little. The perfect intro to the fresher styles of Savennières. It will offer load more with time in bottle!
$94
$90ea in any 3+
$86ea in any 6+
Add to cart
More Info
Taut and complex, apricot stone, crisp pear, lemon – yet ultimately more savoury spice than ripe fruit. Lifting ethereal elements of pine needles, nutmeg and white pepper. Defined shoulders and tensile power, with a shockingly fine and elegant grip. Cool and considered on the long, lingering finish. Don't let the outer calm fool you, this is not a Riesling to be trifled with. Nor to be touched for another few years.”  JancisRobinson.com 18+ Points “The 2021 Kiedrich Gräfenberg
$172
$165ea in any 3+
$158ea in any 6+
Add to cart
More Info