What does unfiltered mean exactly? - Karen MacNeil & Company

January 9, 2026

“Dear Karen, I was at a wine shop last night and saw a wine label that said “unfiltered”. What does that mean exactly?” The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

Dear Russell,

Unfiltered wine skips the mechanical filtration process that can be used to remove yeasts, microbes, and sediments naturally found in wine. Instead, the wine simply rests for a period, allowing gravity to settle particles before the clear wine is drained off. Some winemakers (and consumers) believe that filtration—especially a “tight” filtration—can strip away nuances of flavor and aroma. Unfiltered wines appeal to these individuals. It should be noted, however, that many unfiltered wines don’t say “unfiltered” on the label. That’s because winemakers often decide on a wine-by-wine basis whether or not to filter certain wines in certain years, and labels may have been printed before the winemaker decides!

—Karen

Why are white wine glasses traditionally smaller than red wine glasses?The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

A. Because white wine does not need to be swirled as vigorously to open it up

B. Because white wine is generally not as complex as red wine

C. Because in traditional, elegant place settings, white wine glasses and red wine glasses needed to be differentiated from one another

D. No one knows

Fifty Pounds and a Gazillion Seeds

Lodi, the self-proclaimed “Zinfandel Capital of the World” (it produces over 40% of California’s zin), is also home to over 130 different grape varieties, more than any other California region. These include: The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.