Tartaric Acid
Intermediate Chemistry & ScienceDefinition
The primary acid in grapes and wine.
In Depth
Unique among common fruits, grapes use tartaric acid as their dominant organic acid. It is more stable than malic acid and survives fermentation largely intact. Tartaric acid provides the backbone of wine's acidity and pH. It can precipitate as potassium bitartrate crystals (wine diamonds) when chilled. Added tartaric acid is used for acidification in warm-climate winemaking.
Details
- Category
- Chemistry & Science
- Difficulty
- Intermediate