Wine analysis: How to determine acids in wine

2016-04-07

An exciting time begins for all the wine enthusiasts: Most wineries have started bottling the 2015 vintage a few weeks ago. Soon, there will be the first presentations of the new vintage – which might be quite unusual. The hot summer in Europe led to a rapid ripening of the grapes, together with a high sugar content and a low acidity. And since acids play a key role in winemaking, we took a closer look at the different acids in wine and the methods to determine them.

Acids have a decisive effect on the taste of wine: acid gives the wine structure and a fresh, fruity and balanced taste. Moreover, acids influence the colour and stabilize the wine. Low acidity makes the wine taste flat and dull. At the same time, high concentrations of certain acids can affect the taste and cause wine faults.