Making wine at home is one of the most rewarding experiences. However, this doesn’t mean that winemaking is simple. 

If you're making wine from fruit instead of concentrate then you'll need to deal with plenty of sediment.

There are various ways to remove the sediment but by far the easiest method is to use a filter.

We discuss our favorite wine filters down below so you can deicide if it's the right choice for you or not.

Should You Filter Wine?

Wine filtering is a process that has been always used by winemakers around the world to clarify the beverage.

Nevertheless, due to the advent of some additives that promise to clarify wine without filtering, the use of these systems became a subject of debate.

Some wineries even advertise their “premium” unfiltered wine. What you should keep in mind is that filtering doesn’t have a negative impact on the beverage.

On the contrary, it improves the flavor and quality of the wine. It is, however, a demanding process that should be done with care. 

The goal of wine filtering is to clear the wine of all suspended matter naturally present in the beverage. This matter is represented by tannins, phenolic compounds, and pigments.

Filtering has positive effects on both whites and reds, and it is also able to prevent the beginning of a second fermentation through the removal of unfermented yeast.

On today’s market, there are some additives that promise to improve clarity without the hassle of filtering. While they might do that, they will still be chemical substances added to your wine; as such, it is not suitable to use them if you’re dreaming to drink an organic wine.

Wine filtering is a simple and straightforward mechanical process that traps the matter suspended in a liquid through the use of pads or other physical barriers. To make the process easier, many wine filter manufacturers even propose electric solutions that use pumps to separate clear wine from the sediment.

Another question many winemakers have is whether all types of wine should be filtered or not. The answer is yes. You should filter all wines, even those started from a winemaking kit. Nevertheless, there is to say that you’ll observe more sediment when starting wine from grapes.

The alternative to filtration in winemaking is the use of clarification agents and to rack them at least a couple of times before bottling. This process is particularly efficient on white wines. However, remember that reds are more concentrated in suspended matter, therefore filtering might be a better solution in their case.

Regarding the red wines, you should also know that having some sediment in the bottle is perfectly acceptable. Red grapes are richer in tannin and pigments, therefore it is difficult to remove all sediment even through filtering.

A widely accepted alternative is to use chemical additives such as clarification products and sulfites to the wine, to avoid both filtering and a later fermentation. Although this is a popular process, it will not allow you to achieve a high-quality wine, but rather a mediocre beverage at the best. For this reason, filtering wine is not only recommended, it is essential.

How To Choose A Wine Filter System

Wine filter systems are divided into mechanical and electric units. The first type will require you to use your own force to remove sediment while the latter is a system equipped with a pump and a filtering medium, such as a cellulose pad.

The easiest to use are the electrical systems, designed to displace the wine through the filtering medium with the use of vacuum or air pressure.

As cost grows with the size of the filter system, many winemakers are tempted to use a small unit for filtering a large volume of wine. We can’t emphasize enough how important it is to avoid doing that. Filtering a volume larger than the one stated by the manufacturer could cause the filter system to clog, so you might end up in a time consuming and annoying process.

Another thing to consider is the time required by the unit to filter the wine. Most wine filter systems, regardless of their size, are able to filter a batch of wine in under 20 minutes when used as instructed. This is of crucial importance, as wine shouldn’t be exposed to air for a long time.

The unit has an excellent filtering rate. In fact, Buon Vino Mini Jet is able to filter more than 5 gallons every 15 minutes and it is designed to filter up to 10 gallons of wine at a time. This minimizes air exposure and it also reduces the amount of cellulose filter pads you have to use.

This wine filter system has been designed with ease in mind. As such, the system boasts a self-priming pump and it comes with filter pads of three different dimensions.

Just as the other units produced by the manufacturer, this wine filter system comes with a self-priming pump designed to minimize effort and work. Just insert the tube in the carboy and the filter system will do the rest.

Similar to other products of the brand, this wine filer uses a system of three filter pads designed to remove even the smallest particles from the wine. The unit has a capacity of 5 gallons and it is able to clarify all wine to commercial standards.

The wine filter system is completed with a convenient drip tray and with a drainage tube designed to minimize mess. Its filtering capacity is 20 liters every 15 minutes, which means all your 5 gallons of wine will be filtered almost immediately.

This wine filter system consists of a filtering kit installed between two Cornelius kegs. The pump uses CO2 pressure to push wine or other beverage through the filtering system and it is really easy to use.

The filtering capacities of this system are impressive. In fact, the kit is designed to filter our particles with a diameter of 1 micron, which is quite impressive for a filter system of these dimensions.

Conclusion & Final Pick

Choosing the right wine filter system is often a matter of how much wine you’re actually producing. Considering that this article is majorly dedicated to beginner winemakers, we have chosen the best with small batches of wine in mind.

As such, the best wine filter system available on the market is the Buon Vino Complete Mini Jet System. This wine filter system comes equipped with everything you need to start filtering wine instantly. Moreover, it has a great design offering stability on any surface.

The system is easy to use and it boasts a self-priming pump that makes wine filtering an even easier process.

With a 5-gallon capacity, the system is ideal for all winemakers who prefer keeping their batches small. Nevertheless, the manufacturer offers a wide range of alternative solution thought for those who want to make more wine.