Which statement about tartrate stability methods is true?

• A. Cold Stabilization Requires Fining Before Use
• B. Ion Exchange Replaces Potassium And Calcium With Hydrogen And Sodium
• C. Metatartaric Acid Is Used To Remove Color And Off-Odors
• D. Electrodialysis Adds Potassium Bitartrate To Wine

Answer: (B)

Tartrate stability methods aim to prevent potassium bitartrate crystals from forming in bottled wine by keeping tartrates dissolved in the wine. The ion-exchange approach works by passing the wine through a resin that swaps potassium and calcium ions in solution for hydrogen and sodium ions. By removing the ions that promote tartrate precipitation, the tartrate stays in solution and crystals don’t develop in the bottle.

Cold stabilization is a physical technique that lowers temperature to precipitate tartrates; it doesn’t inherently require fining before use, so the statement that fining is required is not accurate. Metatartaric acid acts as a stabilizer by forming a protective compound that delays crystallization, but it isn’t used to remove color or off-odors. Electrodialysis removes tartrates via membranes and electrical current; it does not add potassium bitartrate to the wine.

So the idea that ion exchange replaces potassium and calcium with hydrogen and sodium correctly describes a tartrate stability method.