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Steps and Processes Which Go Into the Making of Wines

0 comments By Wine Delivery Filed in Wine Delivery Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , October 21st, 2009 @ 11:06 pm
Muna wa Wanjiru asked:

There are a few steps and processes which go into the making of wines and the final evolution that appears magically on our tables.

When to Pick the Grapes

This is a crucial step in the process of wine making and as such should be taken seriously. Picking the grapes at the wrong time could yield different results to the ones you were expecting. The decision to pick the grapes depends to a very great extent on the weather conditions. For instance, if it’s very sunny then the grapes should be picked in the cooler night time environment.

Then again, there’s also the determining factor of the grape variety itself. This combined with the style of wine you want, i.e. dry or sweet, will also be a factor in making the right decision. And then you also have the acidity levels of the grape to check, the sugar levels, the Ph levels and so on and so forth.

Picking the Grapes

Having made the decision to pick the grapes you can now move on to the actual process of picking the grapes. Depending on the size of the vineyard the picking operation varies.

Generally though, you’ll find that containers are placed in easy-to-get-to places, and that most times the grapes will be handpicked. The grapes will then be rushed to the crushing platform where they will go through another check before they will be weighed in and then processed.

It is important that the grapes arrive at the crush platform while they are still fresh. So if the vineyard is a big one, then the grape picking operation will either be carried out mechanically, or with a staggering number of people at hand to ensure the grapes are picked and delivered within about eight hours. The time will naturally vary from vineyard to vineyard, but the urgency to get them off as soon as possible doesn’t.

De-Stemming the Grapes

After all the visual checks have been performed, and the grapes have been weighed in and so forth, they will next be dumped into a de-stemming machine. Here, the stems of the grapes will be removed to avoid mixing in with the grapes, as they are rather astringent and have a bitter flavor to them.

The Grape Skin

Since the skin of the grape is where the greater flavors and aromas are stored, most grapes are given a 24 hour skin contact time, where they are allowed to interact with the skin.

Pressing the Grapes

Depending upon the type of wine to be made the grapes are then either skinned, or are left intact with the skin still on. This is done when the grapes are sent through the wine press. In this machine the grape is sent through the machine to extract the juice, and the skin and seeds are separated from the grape.

Cold settling

The grape juice or “must” is then cold-settled and racked fresh from the grape press. This is to separate any stray bits of skin which might have traveled with the juice. This is mainly done for white wine grapes as the skin is not part of the fermentation process.

Fermentation

The grape juice is then sent to be fermented. The fermenting process happens as a result of the yeast that is added to the juice. The vats or barrels are then sealed and fermentation begins. The yeast will transform the grape juice into wine over a period of time. This varies with the grape variety, the wine variety intended, and other small little details.

Since the yeast breaks down the sugars in the grape juice into carbon dioxide and alcohol, the bubbles that form as a result of the carbon dioxide are released through a small vent. This is where the champagne making process changes, in that it goes through a second fermentation process where the carbon dioxide bubbles are trapped in and sealed into the wine, thereby creating the bubbly wine.

Racking

Once the fermentation of the wine is complete, the racking process begins. This is to clear out the yeast that has collected in the bottom of the fermentation barrel. The wine is pumped out leaving the yeast behind, and this process may take place more than once before the wine can be deemed clear.

Fining

This process involves clearing out excess tannins or proteins which might disturb the proper balance of the wine.

Cold stabilization

This process makes the acids that are naturally present in the wines, stable.

Filtering

Not all wines require filtering but some do, and this is accomplished by using the necessary filtering equipment.

Bottling

This is the last step in wine making, and often many years might have passed between the decision to pick the grapes, to the actual part of bottling the wines ready to ship out.

This is the process though, which brings us closer to the wines, as this is the time when we, the consumer, are allowed access to the wines.

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Combine your Travels With a Wine Tasting Tour for an Added Layer of Enjoyment

0 comments By Wine Delivery Filed in Wine Delivery Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , October 14th, 2009 @ 2:42 am
Muna wa Wanjiru asked:

For instance if you are visiting a winery in Sonoma or Napa Valley you will visit only the wineries that are in those places. With a wine tasting tour you can expand these wine tasting destinations.

These wine tasting tours can be taken in one country or you can see the various wine tasting regions in the world. While this option is expensive you will be able to enjoy authentic wines from regions where you would find expensive wines back home, being sold at reasonable prices. The best way to find out about these wine tasting tour operators is to look in the internet.

Here you will be able to see if you would like to spend your money going to other countries and tasting the wines that are produced there. With this option you will also be able to see about going on a wine tasting tour that takes place on a ship. On this tour you will be introduced to the wines of the country that you are going to be visiting and you can take in some cultural sights as well.

With these options for a great wine tasting tour you will be able to find out how different countries make their fantastic wines. You will also have the opportunity of buying these wines and knowing that even though you may have bought a Chardonnay from one country like France, this same wine will taste different in Italy.

In addition you can see about booking a wine tasting tour where you can taste the wines of a certain region. For instance you can book wine tasting tours to the Champagne region in France. Here you will be able to visit the vineyards and see how the Champagne grapes are turned into Champagne. On the other hand you may want to visit Spain and see how the delicious Rojas wine is produced.

As you can see there are many ways that you can savor the delicious flavors of fine wines. The many different wine tasting tour options will let you see not only the wine making process, but you can see how these wines are made in other countries as well. By going on an international wine tasting tour you see the origins of wine making and you can bring home some fantastic wines that you may never have tried before your wine tasting tour began.

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Careers In The Industry Of Wine Making

0 comments By Wine Delivery Filed in Wine Delivery Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , October 2nd, 2009 @ 11:56 pm
June Beezy asked:

Interested in starting a career in the wine making industry? Well if you are a laid back person, who enjoys the company of other easy going wine drinking people, then this industry is something you should definitely check out.With the US being the fourth largest wine supplier of the world, the opportunities in the USA and North America in general are phenomenal. Wine making is a niche industry, and also very popular with the DIY or Do It Yourself crowd. It’s a hobby for most people who like to enjoy life in its most peaceful form.

What you have to ask yourself would you like to work in the wine cellar and get your hands dirty with the exact making and production of the wine, or are you a business savvy individual who would rather take part in the marketing side of things.

Lets say you wanted to develop a wine yourself, then you would work in a vineyard. A vineyard is sort of a farm where grapes are grown for wine production. As a wine maker, you will have to learn the whole wine making process, from start to finish. You will learn about the type of environment and the factors that play part in creating the best wines of the world.

Factors such as the type of soil, the temperature of the air and even the role that other micro-organisms play such as bugs an insects. As a wine maker, you will discover the many factors that are required to create that perfect grape for that delicious wine. Did you know that their are many prominent schools that actually offer degrees in the art of making wine? The study of wine that will enable you to get a degree is called Enology.

When you become a wine maker, you will have many different tasks that you will need to master first. Tasks such as how to mix and match different grapes with various properties to when to bottle them and ship them to your wine distributor. I suggest that you get started as a wine maker if you are looking to market a wine of your own in the future or take part in promoting an existing product. The best way to get started in any business is to start right at the bottom and work your way up. The reason this is the best long term strategy because you learn everything about a product and product knowledge is the key to success. As goes the old saying, know your product!

Plus when you have such hand on experience under the belt, and decide to move on to upper management or marketing in the wine making industry, you would know exactly what to do and feel confident in generating new business. Whether you want to join the wine making industry as a cellar worker, a wine making supervisor or work for the corporate side in this industry, if you truly have a passion for it, you’ll love every second of it. After all, you’ll be working half of your life, might as well work with something that you enjoy!

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Port Wines From Portugal

0 comments By Wine Delivery Filed in Wine Delivery Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , September 30th, 2009 @ 3:59 pm
Alyssa Nair asked:

Port Wines Come From Portugal

The Douro River Valley which is located in the northern part of Portugal is where the mixture of grapes is grown to produce port wine. The wine was made for shipping reasons and to some people’s surprise reached beyond Europe and into the United States, Asia, Australian and several other places. Port wine for the beginner, is traditionally served as a dessert wine, it is known for the sipping wine at home get-togethers and after work outings. Port wine is different from other types of wine because it has an higher than average alcohol content; the majority range between 19% and 22% by volume. The ingredients and flavors added to the wine can make it a very sweet wine. The price points very depending on the different styles of port wine you like.

Tawny Port Wines

Tawny Ports are lighter in color, older, and distinctly drier than Rubies. Tawny Ports, which is very similar to Rubies, have been know not to improve with added bottle age and are remarkably stable once opened. The difference between a Vintage Port from one producer and another is merely the difference in “house style,” in the same way that the style of a Brut Champagne varies from one house and another. Tawny Ports are often served after dinner, either alone or with desserts that are quite sweet like chocolates. Tawny Reserve port has been known to age for a minimum of seven years in wooden barrels, this is where it takes on a more nutty flavor. The older the Tawny becomes, it takes on more of a pale color, which adds to more of a delicate flavor and creates a drier wine which makes the wine more expensive for the bottle. Where rainfall tends to be about 28 inches a year, which is very low for most counties, is where most of the high quality Tawny, LBV and Vintage ports are made.

Do You Like Chocolate with Your Wine

The years of association in various capacities that I have with wine, I’ve heard numerous debates on the issue, both for and against the rather contentious chocolate and wine pairing. Spending several years in a bottle helps the vintage port take on the aromas of chocolate, cocoa and coffee. Traditionally, Port is served with a strong blue cheese such as Stilton, or fruit and chocolate.

Ports around the world are produced in a similar style like Champagne, but are considered fake Ports. While these pretenders may be somewhat aromatic and flavorful, they fail to capture the delicate balance between elegance and power of a true Port wine. Remember that port wine is very flavorsome on its own and can be enjoyed for several different occasions. The best vintage port wines will not reach their peak of maturity for 20, 30 and sometimes even 40 years. Vintage Ports, which account for only two percent of all Port wines made. These wines age briefly in wood and then spend several years maturing in a bottle. While aging in wood, port wine’s fruity scent develops through oxidation to make a bouquet that is reminiscent of dried fruit, wood, and special spices.

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How a Wine Club Can Help You

0 comments By Wine Delivery Filed in Wines And Spirits Tagged with , , , November 22nd, 2008 @ 4:48 am
Emily Mathers asked:

If you are new to wine, a wine club will help you find out which wines you really like (and those that you don’t). It is the perfect way of discovering new wines on a regular basis. If you’re not currently a member of a wine club, you should think again. Here’s why you are missing out.

Do you generally stick to what you know?

When faced with rows and rows of unfamiliar wines in the local supermarket, do you find that you always end up sticking to what you know? If you do branch out, it’s likely to be because you are swayed by the nicest, most appealing label or because you’ve gone on someone else’s recommendations (which then leave you feeling flat when you discover that you don’t like the same wine as them!) So in your quest to buy new, exciting, great tasting wines for your dinner party or Sunday Lunch, you come away with your same old, trusted bottle of wine. Sound familiar?

Join a Wine Club:

But all of that could be put to an end if you join a wine club. Each month or quarter (depending on the wine club), the wine club will send you a selection of wines from around the world. Featuring a variety of whites, reds, rosé and maybe the odd sparkling or dessert wine, you get to try wines from different grapes, countries and styles. True, you probably won’t like them all but it’s a great way of tasting your way through a selection of new releases, customer favourites and award winning wines that you probably wouldn’t have previously dared chosen.

Discover What You Like:

In the same way that we all like different food, the key thing to remember about wine is that we all like different wines and no one can tell you what you will like. (Remember this next time you are in the wine shop!) So to get the most out of your wines, you need to work out what you like. To help you along the way, most wine clubs enclose detailed information in the wine club case about the wines, so that you can learn more about the grape, country and winemaker as you drink. Suggestions for food matches can also give you confidence next time you host a dinner party. It’s also worth rating your wine club wines as you taste them, as you can be sure that you’ll have forgotten how the first ones tasted by the time you finish the case! Even better is to choose a wine club that displays customer comments on its website. That way, you’ll have an idea of what to expect from your wine club wine before you taste it.

Wine Styles Can Help:

Some wine clubs, such as the Virgin Wines Discovery Wine Club, categorise wines by style, such as “Classic Chardonnay”, “Oaky Aussie Chardonnay”, “Huge Reds” and “Soft and Juicy” reds. This is great for newcomers to wine, as it is far more intuitive than the traditional country and grape based categories, plus it recognises that certain grape varieties like Chardonnay can vary significantly in taste. The real advantage of being a member of a wine club that categorises wines in this way, is that it opens wine drinkers up to a far wider range of wines than they might otherwise have come across. For example in the “Fragrant but Dry” category, wine drinkers will find Argentinean Torrontes as a great value alternative to a pricey French Muscat – a recommendation that you won’t get from a wine club or shop that focuses simply on grape or country.

Try a Tasting Course:

To help wine drinkers learn more about wine, some wine clubs offer tasting courses or events. Tasting wines back-to-back allows drinkers to really get a feel for how two different wines taste and, ultimately, it can help them decide what to buy more of in the future.

Risk Free Buying:

Still not convinced? Part of the fun of joining a wine club is tasting new wines and discovering new favourites but if you are worried about getting something you really don’t like and wouldn’t have chosen yourself, don’t worry. Many wine clubs offer a money back guarantee, so if you come across a wine that you really can’t stomach, they will refund your money.

Join Today:

Joining a wine club can really help you when it comes to learning about wine. Not only will you get to taste a variety of new wines and find out what you really like but also it will give you more confidence in choosing your wines. You’ll never need worry about picking out a bottle of wine for your next dinner party again! To find out about Virgin Wines’ Discovery Wine Club, visit Virgin Wines.

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Making Of Wines

0 comments By Wine Delivery Filed in Wines And Spirits Tagged with , , , August 26th, 2007 @ 6:49 am
sreejith asked:

So you want to experiment how to make wines? Good congratulations! The making of wines is a very skill which can be dated to about 7000 BC.

Why do you want to make wine when you can avail it from your nearest supermarket? Is it the skyrocketing associated with the wines? Or are you not able to find wines which are of good quality in your nearby stores? Or you have a similar feeling like us and you have a strong desire to know what exactly the wine is. Whatever the case may be, we are there to help you to make wine.

One can opt for using one of the two ways which are available to make wines. These are:

1. One can use a kit to make wine. The kit to make wine is inexpensive, good and has very low level of risk when you are experimenting to make wine of your choice.

2. The second option available is the use of real grapes. Even thought the results will cost your more than when you use a kit to make wine, if the batch you made is really successful, and then the glee is beyond words.

If you receive a compliment about the wine, then you can reply haughtily by saying “Why not. I made the wine my self, that too from the grapes”.

But as a tip for the beginners, it is always better to opt for a cheap wine kit to make wine for the first time. You can pick up a basic kit which will contain all the required information for you to make wine. Once you become an expert with the kit, then you can move on to make wine from the real grapes.

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