The Effect of Refrigeration, Bentonite Clarification and Ion Exchange on Potassium Behavior in Wines

Abstract

Though the response of wines to refrigeration varies greatly not only between types but even between wines of the same type, it was found that the decrease in KHT (potassium bitartrate) content between 4 and 6 days of refrigeration may be used as a guide to determine the feasibility of continued refrigeration. Both bentonite fining and ion exchange materially decrease the amount of KHT which wines, are capable of holding in solution, with ion exchange having the major effect. The two effects are not strictly additive. The effect of bentonite fining varies with the manner in which it is done. The variation is apparently clue to the differential adsorption of certain compounds by the bentonite.