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Best Practices for Working With Underripe Grapes

Last Updated: 9/2023

Applies to: Producers dealing with underripe grapes. The complete guides which contain process and product recommendations are available for download at the end of the article.

Working with Underripe Grapes

WINEMAKING IMPLICATIONS

The main issues in making wines from underripe grapes are:

  • Vegetal aromas and flavors
  • High malic acid
  • Possibly deficient YAN

Additionally, in reds, lack of phenolic maturity can result in:

  • Bitter/aggressive sensations
  • Challenges with color

High malic acid associated with underripeness has some potential fermentation consequences including:

  • Juices/musts with high TAs (>15 g/L) and low pHs may not complete alcoholic fermentation.
  • High lactic acid (>3 g/L) resulting from high malic acid (>6 g/L) can lead to stuck malolactic fermentation.

ASSESSING UNDERRIPENESS

The degree of underripeness of your fruit is based on juice chemistry, juice sensory, and the physiological characteristics of your fruit prior to crush. We recommend a rigorous berry sensory assessment.

Berry Sensory Evaluation

The Institut Coopératif du Vin method of berry sensory evaluation, developed by Jacques Rousseau, is a popular and excellent method for this. This method evaluates berries from 4 perspectives:

  1. Visual and tactile sensations: Color, berry firmness and ease of stalk removal
  2. Pulp assessment: Pulp firmness and adhesion to skin, sweetness, acidity and flavor balance (herbaceousness, fruitness)
  3. Skin tasting/maturity: Crushability, acidity, tannic intensity, drying, astringency and aroma
  4. Seed tasting/maturity: Crushability, color, tannic intensity, astringency and bitterness

The level of underripeness as determined by this method is relative and subjective. It is dependent on vintage conditions, varietal, site, and intended style.

pdf Downloads

Once you have assessed the level of underripeness that you're dealing with, download the following guides for:

  • Winemaking advice and mitigation techniques
  • Product recommendations where applicable

RED GRAPES

Download

WHITE AND ROSÉ GRAPES

Download

Best Practices for Working With Underripe Grapes

Last Updated: 9/2023

Applies to: Producers dealing with underripe grapes. The complete guides which contain process and product recommendations are available for download at the end of the article.

Working with Underripe Grapes

WINEMAKING IMPLICATIONS

The main issues in making wines from underripe grapes are:

  • Vegetal aromas and flavors
  • High malic acid
  • Possibly deficient YAN

Additionally, in reds, lack of phenolic maturity can result in:

  • Bitter/aggressive sensations
  • Challenges with color

High malic acid associated with underripeness has some potential fermentation consequences including:

  • Juices/musts with high TAs (>15 g/L) and low pHs may not complete alcoholic fermentation.
  • High lactic acid (>3 g/L) resulting from high malic acid (>6 g/L) can lead to stuck malolactic fermentation.

ASSESSING UNDERRIPENESS

The degree of underripeness of your fruit is based on juice chemistry, juice sensory, and the physiological characteristics of your fruit prior to crush. We recommend a rigorous berry sensory assessment.

Berry Sensory Evaluation

The Institut Coopératif du Vin method of berry sensory evaluation, developed by Jacques Rousseau, is a popular and excellent method for this. This method evaluates berries from 4 perspectives:

  1. Visual and tactile sensations: Color, berry firmness and ease of stalk removal
  2. Pulp assessment: Pulp firmness and adhesion to skin, sweetness, acidity and flavor balance (herbaceousness, fruitness)
  3. Skin tasting/maturity: Crushability, acidity, tannic intensity, drying, astringency and aroma
  4. Seed tasting/maturity: Crushability, color, tannic intensity, astringency and bitterness

The level of underripeness as determined by this method is relative and subjective. It is dependent on vintage conditions, varietal, site, and intended style.

pdf Downloads

Once you have assessed the level of underripeness that you're dealing with, download the following guides for:

  • Winemaking advice and mitigation techniques
  • Product recommendations where applicable

RED GRAPES

Download

WHITE AND ROSÉ GRAPES

Download