Cold Soak
Intermediate Winemaking & ViticultureDefinition
Holding crushed grapes at low temperature before fermentation begins.
In Depth
At 5-10°C for 2-5 days, cold soak extracts color, fruit flavors, and some tannin without the harsher extraction that occurs during fermentation. Popular in Pinot Noir production for deeper color and softer tannins. Extended cold soaks can extract bitter seed tannins if not carefully managed.
Details
- Category
- Winemaking & Viticulture
- Difficulty
- Intermediate