The individuality of wine is determined by the grapes used as raw materials.
However, how humans cultivate those grapes, in other words, how they are brewed, also creates differences in "aroma, flavor, and taste."
This time, we focused on "unfiltered wine," which does not undergo the filtration process, said to be important in the brewing process. What kind of wine is unfiltered wine, which has become popular among Japanese wines in recent years?
Along with basic knowledge, we will also introduce unfiltered wines recommended by "CRAFT WINE SHOP."
About unfiltered wine
Unfiltered wine, which is popular for allowing you to enjoy the original taste of the grapes.
If you are a fan of Japanese wine, you may have seen the word "unfiltered" on wine labels and such.
We will explain the basic knowledge of what unfiltered wine is below.
What is unfiltered wine?
Before learning about unfiltered wine, let's briefly review the process of how wine is made.
The general manufacturing processes of red and white wine are summarized below.
| Process of making red wine | Process of making white wine |
| Harvesting the raw grapes → sorting → destemming and crushing | Harvesting the raw grapes → sorting → destemming and crushing |
| Primary fermentation and maceration | Pressing |
| Pressing | Primary fermentation |
| Malolactic fermentation | Malolactic fermentation depending on the grape variety |
| Barrel aging | Aging (in stainless steel and barrels)※ sometimes not done |
| Racking | Racking |
| Clarification and filtration | Clarification and filtration |
| Bottling | Bottling |
| There are cases where bottle aging※ is not done. | There are cases where bottle aging※ is not done. |
Unfiltered wine, as the name suggests, refers to wine that is not filtered, meaning it does not undergo the above "clarification and filtration" processes.
Why is wine clarified and filtered?
Usually, wine that has completed alcoholic fermentation contains proteins, solids, various microorganisms, and yeast residues, which makes its color appear cloudy white.
Clarification is the process of using fining agents to bind impurities in the wine and clear its color, followed by filtration to remove microorganisms and other particles that were not removed during clarification.
At the winery, the wine is bottled after clarification and filtration to remove microorganisms and yeast residues, resulting in the clear appearance of the wine we usually drink.
Considering this, unfiltered wine might be seen as a negligent wine that skips important brewing steps, but there are deep reasons behind the idea of not filtering wine.
Reasons for finishing wine unfiltered
As mentioned above, wine before fining and filtration contains various solids such as yeast lees and is cloudy in color.
However, the solids remaining in this wine are believed to provide complex flavors, body, and umami, which are lost through fining and filtration processes.
Furthermore, if filtered repeatedly with membrane filters and the like, fruitiness, minerals, aroma, color, and body can be lost, risking the loss of the wine's original potential.
Worldwide and in Japan, the number of producers making unfiltered wine is increasing, driven by the desire to retain as much of the raw grape's charm and express the terroir.
Also, since unfiltered wines are made in various styles, there is the enjoyment of choosing among them.
Some producers wait a long time for the sediment to naturally settle and bottle only the clear upper layer unfiltered.
Some producers deliberately bottle as cloudy wine leaving some sediment, others bottle completely after alcoholic fermentation without racking, and although all are unfiltered wines, their styles vary widely.
Unfiltered wines are thought to have rich aromas, complex flavors, and textured qualities.
While early drinking is generally considered the rule, some wines with high potential can also be aged long-term with proper storage.
By the way, many Japanese wine producers are particular about unfiltered wine, and perhaps because of the culture of "umami," they may feel resistance to removing it.
Of course, since most Japanese wine is consumed domestically, some producers take advantage of the short period until it reaches the drinker and produce many unfiltered wines.
When choosing unfiltered wine, rather than selecting it just because it says "unfiltered," you can enjoy the wine more deeply by understanding the philosophy of the producer.
How to store unfiltered wine
Why is wine fined and filtered in the first place?
One reason is the appearance issue that transparent wine looks healthier and more beautiful, but originally, fining and filtration are done to stabilize the quality of the wine.
Wine that has just undergone alcoholic fermentation contains proteins, yeast, and microorganisms, so the quality of the wine can deteriorate significantly depending on storage conditions.
If there is microbial contamination and yeast remains with a high sugar content, secondary fermentation can naturally occur in the bottle, and in the worst case, still wine bottles may burst.
Therefore, sweet wines are almost nonexistent in unfiltered style wines, and if making unfiltered wine, measures are taken to reduce the sugar content as much as possible after alcoholic fermentation.
Therefore, consumers need to choose unfiltered wines made with reliable techniques and safety considerations, not just any unfiltered wine made carelessly.
Now, even with sound unfiltered wine, the wine inside the bottle continues to live, so home storage methods should be thorough.
While storing in a wine cellar is ideal, if you do not own one, be sure to store it in a place that meets the following conditions.
- A dark place
- A cool place
- A place with little vibration
For a short period, a refrigerator is fine, but avoid the door area where there is a lot of vibration.
A place that maintains a constant temperature of 10 to 15°C is recommended.
Of course, it is important to drink it as soon as possible after opening.
If you are considering long-term aging of unfiltered wine, we recommend storing it in an environment considered "ideal" for wine, such as a wine cellar, as much as possible.
Three unfiltered wines recommended by "CRAFT WINE SHOP"
From here, we will introduce unfiltered wines recommended by "CRAFT WINE SHOP."
We have gathered high-quality, reliable Japanese unfiltered wines you can drink with confidence.
Shinshu Takayama Winery/STW105 Merlot & Cabernet 2019 Unfiltered
Unfiltered wine from Shinshu Takayama Winery, familiar to Japanese wine fans, 'STW105 Merlot & Cabernet 2019 Unfiltered'. ("STW" comes from the initials of "Shinshu Takayama Winery")
It is a lab-style wine made experimentally and limitedly by departing from the regular continuous products and incorporating new attempts, and its label is designed with the image of a laboratory white coat.
This wine is mainly made from Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, and is a bottle made by taking a portion from the company's varietal series "Merlot & Cabernet 2019" production process, minimizing processes such as racking and filtration.
The flavor is richer, and when pouring into a glass, why not occasionally enjoy it slowly while decanting?
By the way, since it also has aging potential, it is a wine you can look forward to seeing how it will change from now on.
Shinshu Takayama Winery/STW105 Merlot & Cabernet 2019
Unfiltered 4,950 yen including tax
Ikka Farm / Gara Mogi (ガラモギ) 2022
Ikka Farm, located in Higashine City, Yamagata Prefecture.
Under the philosophy of "creating an agricultural system in harmony with nature," this winery was founded in Higashine City, Yamagata Prefecture, by alumni from a Sendai junior high school.
"Gara Mogi (ガラモギ) 2022" is a dry orange wine mainly made from Delaware grapes blended with Niagara and Steuben.
This bottle named after the Yamagata fruit farmers' phrase "Gara Mogi," meaning "harvest everything," is crushed whole after cooling in a dark place for over a day post-harvest, then fermented with skins and stems for three weeks in a low-temperature brewing room.
Made by pressing with a balloon press and then fermenting for another two weeks.
No preservatives are used at all; it is unfiltered and bottled as is.
A full-bodied taste made by fermenting skins and stems together, this is a must-see for Japanese wine fans with a wide range of pairing options.
Ikka Farm / Gara Mogi (ガラモギ) 2022
7,678 yen including tax
Hikaru's Vineyard / Kokorozasi 2023
Hikaru's Vineyard, located in Tōmi City, Nagano Prefecture.
This unfiltered wine is crafted by Teru Suzuki, who turned to winemaking after a near-death experience climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
It is a white wine mainly made from Chardonnay, and its fermentation period reportedly lasted over a year.
An unfiltered, unclarified, and deeply flavored Chardonnay made using old barrels.
It is finished as a delicate and elegant wine with aromas of fruits like apple and yellow peach, slightly sweet and rich yet with sharp acidity remaining.
Hikaru's Vineyard / Kokorozasi 2023
3,300 yen including tax
Summary
Unfiltered wines have become increasingly common even in Japanese wines.
These wines are filled with the winery's desire to bring out the original potential of the grapes and are recommended for wine lovers.
To understand the charm of unfiltered wine, start by tasting excellent unfiltered wines with guaranteed quality.
Why not try the recommended unfiltered wines from "CRAFT WINE SHOP" introduced in this article?
