How Wine Is Made
Author: Neil Best

The first stage in the wine making process is to crush the
grapes. In days gone by the grapes would be loaded into a large
vat and the wine maker(s) would gently tread on them to break
the grapes' skins to release the juice.

Nowadays this procedure is almost invariably carried out using
a machine called, unsurprisingly, a crusher.

In the case of white wines, after crushing, the juice is
separated immediately from the pulp of skins and stalks and
fermentation commences.

When making red (and rose) wines, the juice is allowed to
remain in contact with the crushed pulp for a while to add
color, body and flavor to the 'must' (the juice to be
fermented).

Most modern wines are fermented at a relatively low temperature
(around 20 Degrees Centigrade), which results in wine with a
fruity character. White wines are commonly made in large,
cooled, stainless steel containers but some better quality
wines are fermented in oak casks or, alternatively, oak
chippings may be added to the must.

Red and rosé wines are usually produced in stainless steel vats
or, sometimes, in oak. When the fermenting wine has reached the
required color intensity, the liquid is drawn from the vessel,
leaving behind the crushed skins and stalks.

Before bottling, wines from different batches may be blended
together and matured. Depending on the type of wine, the length
of this maturation process can be measured in anything from days
to years.

If an "oaky" flavor is desired then the wine can be matured in
oak barrels. New oak or old oak barrels can be used depending
on the final flavor required.


Even after bottling, the flavor of some quality wines will
continue to evolve, albeit at a slower rate. However nowadays,
most wines, even expensive wines, are ready for drinking soon
after bottling.


About The Author: Since Neil Best first asked: who made the
first wine? he's been recording his findings at
http://www.goodglug.com This article is part of the free Good
Glug Wine Appreciation Course Visit
http://www.goodglug.com/free-wine-course.php and get your copy