Is it even allowed to "sugar" wine - that is, to add sugar in any form? Well - this question is not so easy to answer and there are probably very few topics in winemaking that are so often misunderstood. It should not be understood to mean disguised winemakers sneaking into their wine cellars at night and emptying unauthorised bags of sugar into the tanks and barrels.
Possible sugaring depends on the type of wine, the wine quality level, the stage of vinification and the type of sugar (dry sugar, wet sugar, grape must, RCGM = rectified grape must concentrate). The climate/weather of the wine-growing region in question and the country-specific wine law requirements must also be taken into account. After all, it makes a difference whether the wine comes from the cool north with often less sugar content or from the hot south with often plenty of sugar but often less acidity in the berries.
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Roman Horvath MW
Domäne Wachau (Wachau)