The sponsor, Zoll Cellars, is seeking to improve their current post-fermentation process. Fining is a post-fermentation process used to clarify wine. This paper discusses several commonly used fining agents including: Bentonite, Chitosan and Kieselsol, and gelatin and Kieselsol. The following tests were conducted to compare the fining agents: visual clarity, mass change due to racking, pH, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Bentonite was an effective fining agent when hydrated with water heated to at least 140 ̊F. Chitosan and Kieselsol were also successful with a wait time before racking of at least 24 hours. Gelatin and Kieselsol are not recommended for use at Zoll Cellars because gelatin easily over stripped the wine of important flavor compounds.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Corriveau, Allison Marie
• Wilson, Lindsey Elizabeth

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042915-135627

Advisor

• Kmiotek, Stephen J.

Year

• 2015

Sponsor

• Zoll Cellars

Date created

• 2015-04-29

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Chemical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright