What is Grape Must?

Grape must is the juice obtained from the crushing of freshly harvested grapes. It’s not yet wine, but it holds all the potential to become one.

This liquid:

• is rich in natural sugars (glucose and fructose),
• contains organic acids, vitamins, and minerals,
• has intense and varietal aromas.

How Grape Must is Produced

Must is produced through the following steps:

1. Harvest

Grapes are picked at their optimal ripeness.

2. Destemming and Crushing

Separating the stems from the grapes and gently crushing them to extract the juice.

3. Pressing

Mainly used for white wines, this step extracts all the juice from the grape pulp.

4. Racking

Separating the must from solid parts (grape skins and seeds), if necessary.

Types of Must: Key Differences

There’s no single type of must. Each wine is born from a different must profile, with unique characteristics:

• Free-run must: the first juice extracted, more delicate and refined.
• Press must: richer in phenolic compounds, used in moderation.
• Rectified Concentrated Must (RCM): used to enrich musts with natural sugar.

Must in the Fermentation Process

Fermentation is the chemical transformation of must into wine, thanks to yeasts.

What happens:

• Yeasts transform sugars into alcohol,
• Complex aromas are generated,
• The wine’s color stabilizes and body develops.

Alternative Uses of Must: Not Just for Wine

Not all must is fermented. Here are some alternative uses:

• Cooked must: reduced by boiling, it’s a base for balsamic vinegar and regional desserts.
• Natural non-alcoholic beverages: pasteurized grape must.
• Saba or vincotto: a traditional product in Central and Southern Italy.

Must as an Expression of Terroir

Every must reflects:

• the grape variety,
• the vineyard’s climate and soil,
• the producer’s agronomic choices.

This is why professionals taste must: it’s the first preview of what the wine will become.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

📌 Is grape must alcoholic?

No, it contains no alcohol until fermentation begins.

📌 Can you drink grape must?

Yes, if it's unfermented and consumed fresh or pasteurized.

📌 How long does fresh must last?

A few days. It tends to ferment naturally if not refrigerated.