verb
- the process of adding sugar to grape juice or wine before or during fermentation to increase alcohol content
Usage: winemaking and viticulture term; named after Jean-Antoine Chaptal, French chemist; common practice in cooler wine regions
Examples
- The winemaker considered chaptalizing the must because the grapes lacked sufficient natural sugar.
- Chaptalizing is permitted in many European wine regions under strict regulations.
- By chaptalizing the juice, the vintner ensured the wine would reach the desired alcohol level.
- French winemakers have been chaptalizing for centuries to improve their harvests.
- The decision to use chaptalizing depends on the ripeness of the grapes at harvest.