The Wine Spot

Picture from the article, “The Gritty Truth: Why is There Sediment in My Wine?” by Kelsey Chesterfield.

Finding Clarity: Clearing Up Sediment in Your Wine

by Dave Slayton a member of the Master Court of Sommeliers

Those of us who enjoy wine have probably at some time noticed a powdery, granular substance at the bottom or side of a wine glass. Grit may be a positive personality trait of perseverance, although it is not something I’m particularly fond of in my wine glass. It may be harmless, but I still find it hard to swallow. It’s like finding coffee grounds at the bottom of my coffee cup--not a cause for alarm but not particularly desirable. To some, sediment is an indicator of quality and they call it wine diamonds or wine crystals instead of sediment or wine dregs.

In the article, “The Gritty Truth: Why is there sediment in my wine?” Kelsey Chesterfield says sediment can come in two forms: tartrate and colloids. Tartrates are the larger crystals you may find on the end of a cork or clinging to the sides of the bottle or a wine glass. These jagged, burgundy-colored, diamond-like structures form when tartaric acid (a natural element in grapes) binds with potassium while exposed to cold conditions. Colloids are the smaller and finer-grained sediment made of polysaccharides and protein or can be leftover remnants of grape skins, stems, or seeds. For those of us who missed that day of chemistry class when polysaccharide was explained, it is a carbohydrate made up of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Some winemakers filter their wines to remove sediment. Others leave it because they believe it enhances the wine’s flavors. If you have sediment in your bottle and don’t want it, don’t “grit your teeth” and sip anyway. Wine Spectator suggests setting the bottle upright for a day or more and allowing the sediment to settle at the bottom. When you’re ready to drink, position the bottle’s neck near a light source and pour the wine slowly into another container. Stop pouring the moment you see any sign of sediment in the neck of the bottle. Afterward, toast yourself for getting to the bottom of this and clearing up the issue of sediment.