Riddling

The MenShed team has started the new year with a new project.

Riddling is a technique associated with our wine industry – in particular with the méthode Champenoise or traditional method of making Champagne.

Riddling is a process of periodically rotating a bottle a quarter of a turn while simultaneously tilting it until it’s upside down. This movement causes sediment accumulating inside the bottle to slide down to the neck where it can be removed.

Riddling requires a rack to store bottles – a rack that is designed to permit both turning the bottle but also tilting it to encourage the sediment to slide toward the neck of the bottle.

The rack looks simple but it is a clever design.

This year the team at the MenShed are rehabilitating riddling racks which have worn out over many years of use.

The work avoids the need to dump the racks and replace them.