What is riddling?

What is riddling?

• A. Rapid movement of expired yeast cells to the neck of the bottle
• B. Removal of yeast by centrifuge
• C. Aging of wine in oak
• D. Gradual movement of expired yeast cells to the neck of the bottle

Answer: (D)

Riddling is the process of slowly turning and tilting a sparkling wine bottle so the spent yeast cells (lees) move and settle near the bottle neck. By gradually gathering the lees in that spot, winemakers can remove them cleanly during disgorgement while keeping the wine clear and preserving the bubble structure. This slow, deliberate movement is what distinguishes riddling from other methods; it is not rapid agitation, a centrifuge removal, or aging in oak.

Riddling is the process of slowly turning and tilting a sparkling wine bottle so the spent yeast cells (lees) move and settle near the bottle neck. By gradually gathering the lees in that spot, winemakers can remove them cleanly during disgorgement while keeping the wine clear and preserving the bubble structure. This slow, deliberate movement is what distinguishes riddling from other methods; it is not rapid agitation, a centrifuge removal, or aging in oak.