Process commonly used in the northern Rhône for the production of sparkling wine. A corresponding appellation is called Clairette de Die. The freshly pressed grape must is cooled to minus 3 °Celsius for 48 hours before fermentation and then left to ferment at low temperatures for four months. The unfermented, sweet and still wine is then bottled, where it continues to ferment to an alcohol content of around 7.5% vol. After six to twelve months, the wine is drawn off through a tube in the crown cork, leaving the yeast residue in the bottle. The wine is then filled into new bottles, but no dosage is added. The Méthode rurale is a similar method.
For information on the production of alcoholic beverages, see Champagne (sparkling wines), Distillation (distillates), Speciality wines, Spirits (types), Winemaking (wines and wine types) and Wine law (wine law issues).
There is a vast number of sources on the web where one can acquire knowledge about wine. But none has the scope, timeliness and accuracy of the information in the encyclopaedia at wein.plus. I use it regularly and rely on it.
Sigi Hiss
freier Autor und Weinberater (Fine, Vinum u.a.), Bad Krozingen