Press Wine (Vin de Presse): When It Is a Building Block of Quality – and When It Is Not

The standard

A separately tasted press-wine fraction is judged on its own before a decision is made about its use, and is not allocated wholesale by press pressure.

Criteria

• The fractions are kept apart instead of running together as one portion
• Tasting decides on the addition, not the yield
• The added share is quantified and recorded for the vintage
• Complete exclusion remains a permissible decision

Distinction

Press wine ≠ free-run wine: the free run carries less phenolic matter and a different texture. Press wine ≠ source of fault: a separately tasted press-wine fraction can contribute structure and color stability that the free run lacks. The fraction decides the contribution, not its origin in the press.