1. The process of adding sugar to grape juice or must before or during fermentation to increase the alcohol content of wine.
Usage: winemaking; also called amelioration in some contexts

Examples

• The winemaker decided chaptalization was necessary because the grapes did not have enough natural sugar.
• In cooler climates, chaptalization is a common practice to ensure adequate fermentation.
• French law permits chaptalization in certain wine regions to compensate for poor vintage conditions.
• The winemaker's use of chaptalization increased the final alcohol content from 11% to 12.5%.
• Chaptalization must be done carefully to avoid producing an unbalanced wine.