Is it necessary to wash grapes to make wine, rules and features

The process of making wine at home has a number of nuances. Compliance with all the features will help to prepare a quality drink with high taste and aroma characteristics. One of the questions that novice winemakers face is whether it is necessary to wash the grapes for making wine, or is it allowed to use it immediately after harvest.

Do grapes need to be washed before making wine

The question of the need to wash the grapes is controversial, so it is worthwhile to understand it in detail. When picking grapes, you can notice a whitish bloom on each berry, which is the habitat of the yeast fungi involved in the fermentation of alcohol. In order for the fermentation of an alcoholic drink to take place correctly and with a suitable intensity, the maximum possible amount of fungi must be present in the wort. For this reason, when picking berries, it is important not to wipe off plaque or remove microorganisms. Accordingly, many people prefer not to wash the grapes to preserve plaque.

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. Getting into the raw materials for making wine, parasites provoke the development of mold, obesity and other wine diseases. Negative processes occur if parasites are in conditions suitable for their vital activity.

Different winemakers have their own point of view on the preparation of berries and often wash the grapes. There are also experts who strongly advise against washing the crop. Ultimately, the result of making an alcoholic beverage in the home is unpredictable, so you often have to experiment.

Advantages and disadvantages

When deciding whether to rinse the harvested berries, it is also recommended to study the list of positive and negative points. The main advantages of pre-washing berries are as follows:

• together with erasing, harmful microorganisms are destroyed, which can negatively affect the course of fermentation;
• berries can be sprayed on the vine 2-3 days before harvesting, and then immediately put into processing, which will preserve useful yeast;
• for novice winemakers, pre-washing helps to reduce the risk of wine diseases, which simplifies the entire cooking process.

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Among the shortcomings, one can single out the loss of the original taste and aroma properties.

Also, the disadvantage is the large time spent washing a large amount of the harvested crop.

How to wash grapes for wine

If, having compared the pros and cons of washing grapes before preparing an alcoholic beverage, it was decided to prepare the berries, it is important to follow the instructions. The harvested crop is prepared in the following way:

1. All berries are examined and spoiled specimens are discarded.
2. The bunches are placed in a colander and rinsed with cool running water. If this rinsing is not sufficient to remove dust and dirt, a solution of salt or baking soda may be used.
3. After washing, allow the water to completely drain from the colander and spread the crop on a cloth or paper towel to dry naturally. You can also gently rub the berries with a clean towel.
4. The berries are separated from the ridges and proceed to the direct preparation of the wine.