What are those packages - Part IV
December, 2003 Filed in: Wine making
We continue our look at what were those packages in your wine kit. This month... Clearing Agents
There is a whole host of Clearing Agents available, however there are 3 or 4 primary Clearing Agents commonly found in your wine kits. And don’t forget that bentonite is also a clearing agent. However, while bentonite is negatively charged and able to clear out positive charged particles, the following clearing agents are exactly the opposite, they are positively charged and remove negatively charged particles in your wine. And who thought, winemaking wasn’t an electrifying experience.
Isinglass: Is mainly used in white wine kits. This extremely pure form of gelatin is actually a natural compound. Those of you weak of stomach may want to skip the next sentence, but you really want to know where isinglass comes from. It is made from the bladders of certain fish. Oh well, some people also eat caviar, huh.
Chitosan: Another naturally occurring compound, this time derived from seashells. No worries, though, for your friends with allergies, as people with allergies to fish or scallops, are allergic to the protein in these sea creatures. There is no protein in the shell; it is primarily composed of calcium. Chitosan contains no protein and therefore is non-allergenic. It is actually approved by the Government as a food substance for dietary use (calcium supplement).
Kieselsol: AKA Colloidal silica. This clearing agent is often used in conjunction with gelatin another clearing agent. CellarCraft is a firm believer in this one, two punch. However, Kieselsol is sometimes used alone.
Gelatin: Another of the organic clearing or finings agent. Gelatin will remove some of the tannins so it is often avoided in white wine or those bold wines where tannin is a feature.
So now you know what those packages are used for and the importance of not forgetting one along the way. Thank goodness the kit manufacturers take the guesswork out of the amounts to add and which clarifying agent to use with what wine. Keep it simple thanks.
There is a whole host of Clearing Agents available, however there are 3 or 4 primary Clearing Agents commonly found in your wine kits. And don’t forget that bentonite is also a clearing agent. However, while bentonite is negatively charged and able to clear out positive charged particles, the following clearing agents are exactly the opposite, they are positively charged and remove negatively charged particles in your wine. And who thought, winemaking wasn’t an electrifying experience.
Isinglass: Is mainly used in white wine kits. This extremely pure form of gelatin is actually a natural compound. Those of you weak of stomach may want to skip the next sentence, but you really want to know where isinglass comes from. It is made from the bladders of certain fish. Oh well, some people also eat caviar, huh.
Chitosan: Another naturally occurring compound, this time derived from seashells. No worries, though, for your friends with allergies, as people with allergies to fish or scallops, are allergic to the protein in these sea creatures. There is no protein in the shell; it is primarily composed of calcium. Chitosan contains no protein and therefore is non-allergenic. It is actually approved by the Government as a food substance for dietary use (calcium supplement).
Kieselsol: AKA Colloidal silica. This clearing agent is often used in conjunction with gelatin another clearing agent. CellarCraft is a firm believer in this one, two punch. However, Kieselsol is sometimes used alone.
Gelatin: Another of the organic clearing or finings agent. Gelatin will remove some of the tannins so it is often avoided in white wine or those bold wines where tannin is a feature.
So now you know what those packages are used for and the importance of not forgetting one along the way. Thank goodness the kit manufacturers take the guesswork out of the amounts to add and which clarifying agent to use with what wine. Keep it simple thanks.