Wine Making Process
The wine process is basically the same for the large wineries as it is for the wine maker working at home on a smaller scale.
The wine is produced from fruits and berries, and/or grapes. They crushing and fermenting them. After the fermenting process the the sugar from the fruits turns into alcohol. The fruit that was used to make the wine will determine the color, taste, and aroma.
Basically wine is divided into three main categories. They are fortified, sparkling, and table wine. The fortified wine has a bit of brandy added to it to enhance the alcohol. Levels of CO2 will determine if a wine is sparkling. And then the natural form of the wine is known as table wine.
The preferred fruit for wine is normally grapes. Grapes contain an equal amount of acid and sugar, unlike any other fruit. The most important part of the process of wine making is to harvest the grapes at just the right time. If they do not have the correct balance of acid, sugar, and juice, the flavor of your wine will suffer.
The grapes, or whatever fruit is being used, are first crushed and fermented. This stage of the wine making process turns the sugars into alcohol. When the wine starts the process it may actually have a buttery flavor.
The next part of the wine making process is the settling. The wine parts and waste are separated. Then the aging starts. The wine must be stored in an airtight container for this step. Depending upon the type of wine being made, this step could last for months or even years. Once the wine as finished the aging process it is ready for bottling.
The wine is normally put in a certain type of bottle according to type. Colored bottles are preferred. They will reduce the chances of oxidation, damage, and other problems. And of course the finishing touch is the label. Making labels for your personal wine can be a lot of fun in itself! And first impressions mean a lot, as with anything, so take some time with this step.
After the wine making process, storage is very important. If you want your wine to last and have the very beast flavor you should always make sure that you store it properly. Wines like damp, cool and dark places. Of course a cellar or basement would be the ideal place. But they are not as common as they used to be. The next best thing would be a small refrigerated cellar. Of course this would be an unnecessary expense unless you keep a lot of wine on hand. If you just buy a bottle or two at a time, a dark cabinet would probably be good enough. A temperature of around 55 degrees F is good.
Do not store your wine in a place where the temperature fluctuates, as it can ruin the wine. Also a dry place can cause the cork to shrink. This would let air into your wine. Store the bottles on their side if possible. The moist location along with this will keep both ends of the cork moist.
The wine making process is important, but what you do with the wine after the process is just as important. The whole process has one purpose. For you to enjoy the fruits of labor. If you are making your own wine at home, or just buying it, these steps will help you get the most from it! The rewards will be well worth the effort.
