lees

fermentation sediment

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June 30, 2026

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Lees are the sediment that forms at the bottom of a liquid, such as wine, during fermentation and aging. This sediment consists of dregs, which are undesirable substances that precipitate out of the wine as it clarifies. While some wines improve with aging, lees are removed to prevent a decline in quality and to achieve greater clarification. The term "wine lees" specifically refers to the sediment found in wine.123

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Postfermentation treatment
…found in the sediment, or lees. Separation of the supernatant wine from the lees is called racking. The containers are kept full from this time on by “topping,” a process performed frequently, as the temperature of the wine, and hence its volume, decreases. During the early stages, topping is necessary…
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…found in the sediment, or lees. Separation of the supernatant wine from the lees is called racking. The containers are kept full from this time on by “topping,” a process performed frequently, as the temperature of the wine, and hence its volume, decreases. During the early stages, topping is necessary…
Read More