From grape to glass: the winemaking process in a nutshell

The science of winemaking – which was thought to have begun in around 6000 BC – is known as oenology and wine production can be categorised into still and sparkling. The process starts with the harvesting of the grapes and from beginning to end can take between a few months and more than 20 years.

The grapes are picked either by hand or mechanically and are then prepared for fermentation in the winery. Fermenting the juice extracted from either red or white crushed grapes with the skins removed produces white wine. Red wine is produced from red or black grapes fermented with the skins, as it is the tannin or pigment in the skins that colours the wine. If a rosé wine is being produced, the fruit is crushed and the dark skins left in contact with the juice long enough to extract just the right colour desired by the winemaker. The most common variety of grape used in winemaking is the Vitis Vinifera, although some choose to use an alternative to grapes, such as plums or pineapples; flowers including elderflowers or rosehips, or even rice.

During the primary fermentation stage, yeast is added to convert the fruit’s naturally occurring sugars into ethanol (alcohol). This is followed by a secondary (bacterial) fermentation in which the acid content is decreased to encourage a softer taste. Sparkling wines undergo an additional fermentation stage, during which carbon dioxide is trapped within the bottle to produce the bubbles.

During the next stage – cold stabilisation, the temperature of the wine is lowered to freezing point in order for the ‘wine crystals’ (formed when potassium and tartaric acid mix) to separate from the wine. Unwanted proteins are then removed through the process of heat stabilisation.

Next, any remaining yeast is removed through filtration, and then the wine is placed in barrels or containers and stored for varying lengths of time. Wine will only be bottled once it has aged to the winemaker’s satisfaction, and commonly, different grape varieties and batches are mixed to achieve the right quality and taste.

Finally, log onto www.finewinesellers.co.uk,  fill up your glass and say ‘Cheers’!