Bentonite

/BEN-toh-nite/

Clay used for fining wine to remove proteins.

Full Definition

Bentonite is a type of clay used as a fining agent to remove proteins that can cause haze in white wines. It carries a negative charge that attracts positively charged proteins, causing them to precipitate. Bentonite can strip some color and flavor if used excessively. It's one of the most common fining agents.