The process of making wine at home has a number of nuances. Compliance with all the features will help you prepare a high-quality drink with high taste and aroma characteristics. One of the questions that novice winemakers face is whether they need to wash the grapes to make wine or whether they can be used immediately after harvesting.
Do I need to wash grapes before making wine?
The issue of the need to wash grapes is controversial, so it is worth understanding it in detail. When harvesting grapes, you can notice a whitish coating on each berry, which is the habitat of yeast fungi involved in the fermentation process of alcohol. In order for the fermentation of an alcoholic drink to take place correctly and at the appropriate intensity, the maximum possible number of fungi must be present in the wort. For this reason, when picking berries, it is important not to rub off plaque or remove microorganisms. Accordingly, to preserve the plaque, many people prefer not to wash the grapes.
In addition to yeast fungi, other types of microorganisms live on the surface of grapes, which can negatively affect the quality of the finished product. When parasites get into the raw materials for making wine, they provoke the development of mold, obesity and other diseases of wine. Negative processes occur if parasites are in conditions suitable for their life.
Different winemakers have their own point of view on the issue of preparing berries and often wash the grapes. There are also experts who strongly recommend against rinsing the crop. Ultimately, the result of preparing an alcoholic drink at home is unpredictable, so you often have to experiment.
Advantages and disadvantages
When deciding whether to wash the collected berries, it is also recommended to study the list of positive and negative points. The main benefits of pre-washing berries include the following:
- along with erasing, harmful microorganisms are destroyed that can negatively affect the progress of fermentation;
- the berries can be sprayed on the vine 2-3 days before harvest, and then immediately put into processing, which will preserve beneficial yeasts;
- For new winemakers, pre-washing helps reduce the risk of wine developing disease, making the entire preparation process easier.
Disadvantages include the loss of original taste and aroma properties.
Another disadvantage is that it takes a lot of time to wash a large amount of harvested crop.
How to wash grapes for wine
If, after comparing the pros and cons of washing grapes before preparing an alcoholic drink, you decide to prepare the berries, it is important to follow the instructions. The harvested crop is prepared in the following way:
- All berries are inspected and spoiled specimens are rejected.
- The bunches are placed in a colander and washed with cool running water. If such washing turns out to be insufficient to remove dust and dirt, you can use a solution of salt or baking soda.
- After washing, allow the water to completely drain from the colander and place the crop on a cloth or paper towel to dry naturally. You can also gently wipe the berries with a clean towel.
- The berries are separated from the ridges and proceed to the direct preparation of wine.
