Charmat process - The Charmat or bulk process is a method where sparkling wines receive their secondary fermentation in large tanks, rather than individual bottles as seen in Méthode champenoise.
Charmat Process: The process of producing sparkling wines in tanks rather than bottles. Often used to mass-produce inexpensive sparkling wines.
Charmat Process: A process for producing sparkling wine or champagne cheaply and in large quantities by conducting the secondary fermentation in large tanks rather than individual bottles.
The Charmat process is known as the "Metodo italiano" in Italy, where it was invented and is most used.
Both the transfer and Charmat process are time and money savers. There are knowledgeable wine critics who contend that the different methods of producing sparking wine can each produce equal quality product given the same fruit to begin with.
Low-cost, mass-produced, made not in the bottle but by the often-maligned Charmat process, which may mockingly be defined as "individually fermented in this great honkin' vat.
The wine is rarely made in a "champagne" style. It is typically made using the Charmat process where a second fermentation is conducted in a pressurized tank.
Synonyms
...
it involves causing a secondary fermentation in a large tank as opposed to the more classic method of secondary fermentation within the original small bottle. American wines made by this method must state this or its equivalent "Charmat Process" on ...
 See also: Sparkling, Charmat, Italia, Wine, Sparkling wine
|
