A physical process used in distillation and rectification (separation of liquid mixtures). The liquid to be separated is distributed very thinly by rotating conical discs in conjunction with a vacuum using centrifugal force. A video (click to view) from the Californian manufacturer ConeTech clearly demonstrates the process.
The process, which has long been used in beer production, is also used in winemaking, particularly in the USA. It is used for the production of dealcoholised or low-alcohol wine through alcohol reduction, concentrated grape must and RCGM, for the optimisation of aroma and sensory properties, as well as for the reduction of excessive sulphurous acid content. The wine is broken down into fractions. A fraction is a group of substances with the same or a similar boiling point. These can be water, alcohol and various flavour groups. The wine (or liquid) is heated under vacuum, which allows for relatively low temperatures. At 100 mbar (0.1 bar), the boiling point of wine is around 35 to 45 °C.
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The glossary is a monumental achievement and one of the most important contributions to wine knowledge. Of all the encyclopaedias I use on the subject of wine, it is by far the most important. That was the case ten years ago and it hasn't changed since.
Andreas Essl
Autor, Modena