How Do You Spell PRESSURAGE?

Pronunciation: [pɹˈɛʃəɹɪd͡ʒ] (IPA)

Pressurage is a French term used in wine-making to describe the process of pressing grapes to extract juice. It is spelled with two "s" letters in the middle, which is unusual in French because of the language's normal rule of having just one "s" between two vowels. In IPA phonetics, "pressurage" is transcribed as /prɛsyraʒ/, with the "ss" sound represented by the phoneme /s/, and the "u" sound represented by the phoneme /y/. The final "age" is pronounced as /aʒ/.

PRESSURAGE Meaning and Definition

1. Pressurage is a French term used predominantly in winemaking to refer to the traditional method of extracting grape juice by applying pressure to the grapes. Derived from the word "presser," which means "to press" in French, pressurage involves the gentle and controlled crushing of grapes to release their juice, without damaging the skins, seeds, or stems.

   In the process of pressurage, grapes are handpicked or mechanically harvested, then transferred to a press, where they are delicately crushed. The pressing technique can vary depending on the desired characteristics of the wine to be produced. The amount of pressure applied affects the yield and quality of the juice obtained. A lighter pressing typically extracts the highest-quality juice known as "free-run juice," which is usually reserved for premium wines. Further pressing may yield additional juice but of slightly lower quality, referred to as "press wine."

   Pressurage is commonly employed in the production of white wines, particularly those made from grape varieties with delicate flavors and aromas. By pressing the grapes gently, winemakers aim to minimize the extraction of harsh tannins and other bitter components found in the skins, resulting in a smoother and more elegant wine. The extracted juice is then fermented to produce wine according to the desired style and characteristics.

   Overall, pressurage plays a vital role in winemaking as it determines the initial quality of the juice obtained from grapes and ultimately contributes to the overall character and flavor profile of the resulting wine.

2. The juice of the grape extracted by the wine-press.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for PRESSURAGE

• pressurave

Etymology of PRESSURAGE

The word "pressurage" comes from the French term "pressurage" which means "pressure". It is derived from the verb "pressurer", meaning "to press". In winemaking, "pressurage" refers to the process of extracting juice from grape berries by applying pressure.

Plural form of PRESSURAGE is PRESSURAGES