26 posts
There are lots of wines being produced. Just look at the wine aisle at your local grocery story or wine shop. And then, look at how many different Chardonnay wines are offered. And how many Cabernet Sauvignons there are. And so on. But, these wines...
Another aspect of the art of wine making is knowing when to top off oak wine barrels during the winemaking process. Winemakers need to routinely do this during barrel aging. Here’s why… 1. Evaporation Through the Barrel While the oak staves in t...
Punchdowns and pumpovers are techniques used by wine makers in the production of red wine. They happen during fermentation and are used to manage the “Cap” - the grape solids (skins, seeds, stems) that rise to the top of the fermentation vessel and...
Another aspect of the art of wine making involves choosing the type of vessel used for fermentation. Fermentation vessels are available in several materials with each one allowing the wine maker to influence their wine’s flavor, texture, and overall ...
As previously mentioned, wine making is a blend of art and science. Another aspect that is often regarded as an art form is choosing the method to use to press the grapes to extract the juice. The wine press is thousands of years old. The first wine...
As previously mentioned, wine making is a blend of art and science. Another aspect that is often regarded as an art form is choosing whether to de-stem the grapes for fermentation of leave them as whole clusters. The choice between using whole clus...
As previously mentioned, wine making is a blend of art and science. Another aspect that is often regarded as an art form is choosing the right time to harvest the grapes. The art of determining when to harvest wine grapes is a crucial skill in winem...
As was previously noted, wine making is a combination of science and art. One of the factors that’s considered an art is selecting the right grapes to grow in the right area. In winemaking, terroir describes the interplay of environmental factors—so...
Here’s an overview of how Prosecco is made: 1. Harvesting Grapes: The primary grape used is Glera, though other varieties like Verdiso, Perera, and Bianchetta can be blended in small quantities. Timing: Grapes are usually harvested early to retain...
Méthode Traditionnelle: This is the traditional method for making sparkling wine. With this process, the secondary fermentation takes place inside the bottle, creating the bubbles. The process begins with the addition of a liqueur de tirage (see be...
Occasionally, when opening a bottle of still white wine and pouring it into a glass, you may see some tiny bubbles in the wine. And, if you use a bottle stopper and pump to extract the air in the bottle, you may see bubbles coming up through the wine...
I was recently asked about the color of wine. Specifically, why does the color of a red wine vary, especially within the same variety. So, let’s take a look at the factors that affect a red wine’s color. As the grapes are harvested, they are piled ...
There are a lot of fancy terms used when describing wine and many of them get thrown around like everyone should know what they mean. The other day I was reading through some material and came across the term “élevage” and had to stop. What does th...
As discussed in the first two parts of this series, the wine making process begins with harvesting the grapes and then proceeds into fermentation. But, once the natural sugars in the grapes are converted to alcohol, the process isn’t over. The aging...
Last time we began looking at the wine making process, starting with the grapes. While the grapes certainly are the most important ingredient in wine making, there is another very important ingredient - yeast. So, let’s take a look at the fermentati...
Finally, Fall is just around the corner and harvest time is beginning. This is the point where grape growers and wine makers become very focused on the grapes as they ripen. Then, once the grapes reach just the right level of ripeness, they are quick...
Traditionally, white wine is made from ‘green’ grapes and red wine is made from ‘red’ grapes. But, did you know that white wines can be made from red wine grapes? First, let’s take a quick look at how white and red wines are made. In the productio...
Have you ever taken that last sip of wine only to find a nasty surprise either at the bottom of your glass or in your mouth? Sediment! It can be a very unpleasant discovery. But, luckily, it’s nothing to be worried about. Sediment is a natural bi-pr...
I recently had a friend return from doing some wine tasting in Napa. While he said he enjoyed the wine, he did complain that it was windy and cold. And, he said he was told that the wind helped the wine. So, he asked me “How does wind affect a wine?”...
Last time we took a look at a wine fun-fact about a butt of wine and learned that it is a measure approximately equal to two standard barrels. So, here’s some more wine fun-facts about the amount of grapes used in producing wine. When you look out ...
It may sound like an odd question; an egg in wine? Winemakers use many different products to fix flaws and flavors. But it usually difficult to know which ones have gone into your glass. There’s no law requiring bottles to be labeled with these ing...
Ever wonder how terms like ‘Jammy,’ ‘Buttery,’ and ‘Earthy’ can be associated with wine? A product that made with grapes? Previously we looked at “How do all those flavors get into wine?” There we learned that taste and smell come from the combinati...
A few years back as I started to become interested in wines, I was searching for a really great wine that I could dependably go back to time after time. While the search for a great wine was a fun adventure, it never seemed to converge on a wine that...
Vineyards have been busy the last couple of months with harvest. Once the grapes have been determined to be at just the right ripeness, it’s a big rush to get them off the vines and out of the vineyard. And then the magic begins. Turning bunches of ...
While doing some wine tasting, I had the opportunity to chat with the Winemaker. As I was complimenting him on making some outstanding wine, I commented “Making wine must be really hard.” He laughed and shook his head. “No,” he replied “Making wine ...
You may have read about a wine, or checked the back label, or heard people speak of wines with flavors of apple, grapefruit, blackberries, raspberries and strawberries. Or, leather, tobacco, chocolate, and coffee. Or my all-time favorite, from the b...