What is remontage?

What is remontage?

• A. Draining the vessel completely
• B. Maturation period
• C. Tartrate stabilization
• D. Pumping of fermenting wine over the cap

Answer: (D)

Remontage is a cap-management technique used during red wine fermentation where the fermenting liquid is pumped from the bottom of the vessel and poured over the surface of the grape skin cap. This action wets the skins, promotes extraction of color, tannin, and aroma compounds, and helps prevent the cap from drying out or overheating. It also provides some gentle aeration to support yeast activity. It’s distinct from draining the vessel completely (racking), which removes the wine and solids, from maturation (aging after fermentation), and from tartrate stabilization (a stabilization step before bottling).

Remontage is a cap-management technique used during red wine fermentation where the fermenting liquid is pumped from the bottom of the vessel and poured over the surface of the grape skin cap. This action wets the skins, promotes extraction of color, tannin, and aroma compounds, and helps prevent the cap from drying out or overheating. It also provides some gentle aeration to support yeast activity. It’s distinct from draining the vessel completely (racking), which removes the wine and solids, from maturation (aging after fermentation), and from tartrate stabilization (a stabilization step before bottling).