Powdered wine: debunking the myth
What is the question
Disputes about the existence of mythical "unnatural" wine made from powder do not subside on the Internet. Some people fiercely argue that all cheap wines are a surrogate made from dried grape raw materials, while others argue that it is almost impossible to make wine in this way. Who is right? Shake it up and figure it out!
Freeze-drying: what is it and is it used in winemaking
The process of soft drying of substances, including pre-freezing and placing them in a vacuum environment, is used for long-term storage and preservation of various products.
It is used in medicine and the food industry, in particular in the production of instant coffee and food for astronauts.
In French winemaking, freeze-drying is used to preserve lactic acid bacteria, which are necessary to reduce the acidity of wine.
Research on the production of wines from powder is also being conducted, but it is nothing more than experiments.
Even with a successful result, they are not intended for the mass consumer: the process of lyophilization and restoration of wines from solid raw materials is an expensive pleasure.
It is absolutely impossible to dry wine materials and make a normal drink from them in any other way.
Therefore, when you buy inexpensive wine, you can be sure that no grape powder was used for its production.
Another thing is that the quality of such products is not always good due to savings on raw materials or production processes.
How cheap wine is produced
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The classic way
From good raw materials purchased from local producers at a low price.
Such wine materials can produce quite good budget wines.
It should be borne in mind that starting from the summer of 2020, products made from imported raw materials cannot be called wine by law.
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From not very high quality raw materials
Which is "refined" with sugar and grape juice.
Sugar is often used in winemaking to mask "defects", both minor and significant.
The sweeter the cheaper the wine, the more likely it is to be of poor quality.
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Through the reuse of raw materials
This is the worst way, when several batches of products are infused on the same pulp or the remaining juice is extracted from a batch of grapes that has been pressed using a press.
The taste and characteristics of such wine speak for themselves. It is impossible to get quality wine in this way.
How not to buy a surrogate
To protect yourself from buying a fake, you should be careful when choosing wine:
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Study information about the manufacturer and wine materials
Inspect the label and bottle for defects and damage.
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The inscription "special wine"
Means that the wine is fortified, i.e., alcohol is added to it. This includes port and sherry wines.
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Low-quality wines
More common among products in Tetra Pak. Particular attention should also be paid to sweet and semi-sweet wines - they should be chosen from reputable manufacturers.
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Tetra Pak
Not always indicates a low quality of wine, but it is not used for high-quality wines either. For example, it can be a good idea to buy a Tetra Pak with wine from a farmer who has grown grapes and made wine himself.
In stores, this option is extremely rare, and usually it is a package of 3 liters or more.
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Cheap dry wines
There are also many low-quality samples here.
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Too low a price
For 1 liter usually indicates a low level of quality.
Update: 21.06.2021
Category: Wine and Vermouth