Filtering.

[mike48]

Greetings all. Curious where everyone stands on filtering. George seems in favor andCellar Craft recommends it as well. I've got a book on wine making and the author is totally against it. He claims that it robs the wine of future flavor. I'd be remiss if I didn't add that he also claims that making wine from a kit is a joke so I don't know if I should give him all that much attention. I've decided that I will bulk age from now on for various reasons and I was wondering if that would do the trick or if I should still filter. Thanks.


Mike


Ps. Great forum and excellent tips but I am really beginning to see how little I really know so it can be depressing at times:}

 

[Bartman]

I have never filtered any of my wines, so my opinion is entirely one-side. I have never found it necessary, although it doesn't bother me if the last bottle or two out of 30-31 has a little sediment at the bottom; with dark reds, most folks never notice it (if they see that bottle at all, as I mark the cork of the ones that have any sediment and keep those at home).

So, I can't say which way is 'better' because I have only *not* filtered. (1) Don't think it's necessary, (2) it adds to the expense and time involved (even if just a 'little' time is needed to clean and set up the equipment and run the wine through), and (3) it runs the risk of 'stripping' out some of the good stuff in the wine (although it is debatable).

 

[joeswine]

To filter or not To filter?




It all depends on what you want the finial outcome of your wine to be, do you entercompetitions (filter always ) if not thats on you ,yes on some wines of lesser overall quality it can strip out some notes ,however in most cases experienced wine makers will either rack reds throughly and filter whites,at least thats my overview,filter you should.

to each his or hers own.

 

[Wade E]

I like to filter all my wines now. as Ive had a few batches that even after a year of bulk aging decide to drop some sediment in the bottles. Ive never noticed any loss of flavor by doing this and Ive done a few side by side comparisons. I will say Ive seen a very little color loss on 2 bathces but youd never notice without having 2 side by side.

 

[joeswine]

WADE what I was primarily referring to is fresh juice wines not kits and mostly whites you can and I have lessened the taste of some by heavy filtering ,that's why I had made a statement way back about the body of the juice wines we were buying at time ,yes you can strip some of the flavor out,in some cases after fermentation there's not a whole lot of taste left,we have enough members in our club to be able to taste the changes,it happens....

 

[Wade E]

What exactly do you mean by heavy filtering. I dont do heavy filtering so I can see if your doing that it would strip. I use 1 micron on whites once and 5 micron on reds once.

 

[Brent2489]

I have had great wines with filtering and great wines without filtering. Most recent was from local home brew, fresh Merlot. 6 months in carboy. BOY what a wine!!! Wish I had not given away those 4 bottles!!!

 

[AlFulchino]

i do not filter any reds, but filter whites for purposes of clarity to the consumer..on its own , i do not mind (personally) a white that drops anything but a consumer could

its all a personal decision and worth experimenting with ...simply to see for yourself..that is a lot of the joy of wine making

 

[harleydmn]

I got my first white in the secondary. How do you filter them, what type of filter?

 

[ibglowin]

Welcome to the FVW forums!

If your just starting out, you should watch Georges videos on filtering wine

The Vinbrite filter will be your least expensive option.

 

[harleydmn]

Thanks, Mike
I will have to get one. So much too learn, but my wife and I are having alot of fun. Can't wait to sample our first home made wine.