Pip
Definition - What does Pip mean?
In the context of wine grape anatomy, the pip is the seed in the grape. While grape seeds are not necessarily desirable in the winemaking process, they are important to wine and wine history. Historically, grape vines were spread by the distribution of the seeds to different lands. Archaeologists can study the seed morphology to see how grape vines have evolved throughout our history.
WineFrog explains Pip
The grape pip has flavors and tannins that are considered undesirable in wine making. The tannins in the pip are alcohol soluble and can be released into the wine during long fermentations. The reason the tannins and phenolic compounds are considered undesirable is due to their harshness and their ability to lighten the color of red wines through a process called enzymatic decolorization. While winemakers have experimented throughout history with different methods to remove the pips from the must, the most successful of which is delestage. This process retains the color of the skins and the fruit character of the wine while reducing the tannins and phenolic compounds from getting into the wine. Delestage or seed removal is often done several times during active fermentation as the must separates.
