The Basics
What is Wine?
Definition:
Wine is an alcoholic beverage made from the fermented juice of grapes (or other fruits and berries).
How is Wine Made?
Much like anything else, making wine can be a very simple process, with complex steps added along the way. Manual pdf
In this section, we layout the most basic steps in order to give you a good general idea of how wine is made.
Grapes
The grapes are grown in the vineyard by a vigneron (grape farmer). Sometimes the vigneron is also the winemaker, but this is not always the case.
Harvest
Once the grapes reach the proper ripeness, they are picked (harvested) and brought to the winery.
Crush
The winery gently crushes the grapes and removes them from their stems. Then the crushed grapes are pressed in order to squeeze out the juice.
*For red wine, the grapes are crushed and fermented before pressing off the juice. Read more about it on our Wine Styles section. Manual pdf
Fermentation
At this point, yeast is introduced to the juice to begin the process of fermentation. Learn more about fermentation below.
Aging
Once the wine is finished fermenting, it is racked (pumping the wine off the dead yeast cells) into barrels or stainless steel tanks to allow the wine to age.
What is Fermentation?
Definition:
Fermentation is the process of converting sugar to ETHANOL (ethyl alcohol) and CO2 by way of yeast.
When the yeast is introduced to the sugary juice, it eats through the sugar and converts it into alcohol and carbon dioxide. Manual pdf
The CO2 gasses off into the air, leaving behind the alcohol (which, in the case of grape juice, is the wine!).
Featured Articles
How to Open a Bottle of Wine
Why know how to open a bottle of wine? Because it is a beautiful beverage….
Building a Wine Cellar
It usually starts with a basement… Where you locate your cellar will influence the costs…
Natural Wines 101
The latest trend in wine is not a trend at all; instead, it’s a return…
The Top Israeli Wineries
The History of Israeli Wine Israeli wine-making stretches back thousands of years, and wine culture…
Wine Cellar Pros and Cons
The Wine Cellar Myth Wine enthusiasts agree that aging wine is the ne plus ultra…
Decanting Tips
When and how to decant wines is one of the most frequently asked questions about…
Five Wines Loved by Sommeliers
“Drink what you like” has become the slogan of the wine cognoscenti at every sommelier…
Wine Tasting Basics
You’ll first need to gather some basic tools. Here are our recommendations. We don’t include…
Clara Bow
Classic Negroni
A Wine 101 Guide to Wine
Women in Wine: Marika Vida
Snacking + Wine-ing
The Ultimate Guide to Kosher Wine
Hyper-Decanting: The Controversial Method
Decanting: The Basics
Sip Like a Somm
Sustainability
Organic, Natural, or Biodynamic Wine?
Top 5 American Wine Expos
Women in Wine: Patricia Savoie
Vegan Wine: What’s It All About
Opening Wine: Tips and Tricks
Best Wines For a Wine Tasting Party
America’s Top Wine Storage Facilities
