Which process clarifies wine by using fining agents such as egg white or gelatin?

• A. Filtration
• B. Destemming
• C. Maceration
• D. Fining

Answer: (D)

Fining is the process that clarifies wine by using fining agents such as egg white or gelatin. These agents bind to suspended particles, proteins, and tannins, forming larger aggregates that settle to the bottom so they can be removed from the wine. This helps reduce cloudiness and can also influence color and aroma by removing certain off-flavors or haze-forming compounds.

Filtration, by contrast, mechanically removes particles as the wine passes through a filter. Destemming is a pre-fermentation step that removes grape stems, not a clarification method. Maceration is the extraction of color, tannins, and flavors from grape skins during fermentation, not a clarification technique.