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Pectin haze

Physical and stabilitySometimes recoverable

Nothing. A dull, unclearing haze in a fruit wine that has otherwise finished and settled.

What causes it

Pectin from fruit that was never broken down, holding a permanent cloud that no amount of settling clears.

Detection threshold

Confirmed by mixing a sample with methylated spirit: if it forms strings or clots, it is pectin.

What you can do

Pectic enzyme still works on a finished wine, just slowly. Give it a fortnight at room temperature.

How to prevent it

Add pectic enzyme to the cold must and wait twelve hours before pitching. Hot must destroys the enzyme, which is why it goes in before heating never after.