Glossary
Cold Stabilization
/KOHLD stay-bil-ih-ZAY-shun/
Chilling wine to precipitate tartrate crystals.
Full Definition
Cold stabilization chills wine to near-freezing temperatures, causing tartrate crystals to form and precipitate before bottling. This prevents crystal formation in the bottle, which some consumers mistake for flaws. Some premium producers skip this step, preferring minimal intervention. Crystals are harmless.
Related Terms
See Also
Reference
More terms starting with C
Canopy Management
Techniques to control vine leaf and shoot growth.
Capsule
The foil or plastic covering over a wine bottle's cork.
Carbonic Maceration
Whole-grape fermentation in CO2, producing fruity wines.
Cava
Spanish sparkling wine made by traditional method.
Cellaring
Storing wine under proper conditions for aging.
Chai
French term for an above-ground wine storage building.