Racking is an essential part to making any sound wine. It is a process that, on average, should be performed 2 to 4 times throughout the winemaking process. Doing so in a timely manner will aid in the clarification of the wine and help to inhibit the production of unwanted off-flavors.

What happens if you don't rack your wine?

Don't Over Do It

While racking is beneficial for clearing a wine and keeping it from picking up off flavors you don't want to rack any more than absolutely necessary. Each time you rack you will expose your wine to some oxygen which will accelerate the aging process.

What is the purpose of racking how red wine is made?

The purpose of this racking is to further clarify the wine by taking the wine out of barrel, cleaning the barrel of the sediment, and then putting the wine back into barrel. This is the point at which wine-making becomes both a science and an art – with a little magic thrown in.