What chemical reactions do take place when you mix bentonite in wine for protein stability?

Answer 1

Bentonite is added to wine for fining or clarifying it. It's not really a chemical reaction, but a physical change; the particles making wine cloudy stick to it and fall out of solution.

Answer 2

When bentonite is mixed in wine for protein stability, it undergoes a process called flocculation. Bentonite particles bind with unstable proteins in the wine, forming larger particles called flocs that settle to the bottom of the tank. This helps to clarify the wine by removing unwanted proteins, resulting in a more stable and clear final product.