🍷 Bentonite

Bentonite is a special clay used in winemaking to clarify wine. It formed from volcanic ash. In water bentonite swells and attracts protein particles that could otherwise make the wine cloudy.

Grape juice contains proteins. In white wines, after bottling, they can clump and make the wine hazy, especially in warmth. To prevent this, a suspension of bentonite is added. The clay binds the proteins and settles to the bottom. The sediment is then removed, and the wine stays clear and stable. This method is called fining.

Bentonite is also suitable for vegan wine, because it is of mineral origin, unlike gelatin, egg white or casein. The amount of clay is limited by the rules, and none remains in the finished wine. It is used more often for white and rosé wines.