The Entire Process of Making Wine

Summary

This video script delves into the rich history and intricate process of winemaking, from its ancient Egyptian origins to modern techniques. It explains the selection of grapes and their transformation into wine, including the use of foot stomping for gentle juice extraction and the critical role of fermentation. The script also covers the importance of aging, the impact of vintage on wine quality, and the final steps of bottling, offering a comprehensive journey from vine to bottle.

Takeaways

• 🍇 Wine making has ancient origins, dating back to 5,000 BC in Egypt, with evidence found in cave wall paintings.
• 👣 Traditional foot stomping was used to extract grape juice gently, avoiding the release of bitter compounds and excessive heat.
• 🌍 The selection of grape variety and factors like climate and soil composition are crucial for determining the wine's characteristics.
• 📏 A refractometer is used to check the sugar content in grapes, ensuring optimal ripeness for harvest.
• 🚜 Modern wine harvesting often employs mechanical harvesters or robots, reducing the need for handpicking.
• 🍷 The process of crushing grapes is essential and can be done traditionally by stomping or mechanically with a crusher stemmer machine.
• 🔴 For red wines, the skins are left in contact with the juice during fermentation to extract color and tannins.
• 🔬 Fermentation involves the conversion of sugar into alcohol by yeast, with some winemakers experimenting with different yeast types.
• 🧪 Chaptalization, the addition of sugar to increase alcohol content, may be done if grapes lack sufficient sun exposure.
• 🛠 Aging can take place in various containers like stainless steel tanks, oak barrels, or concrete vats, affecting the wine's flavor profile.
• 🍾 After aging, the wine is clarified and filtered to remove sediment before bottling, with some wines benefiting from further bottle aging.
• 🏷 The vintage year on a wine label indicates the year of grape harvest, which can affect the wine's quality due to varying weather conditions.

Q & A

What is the historical origin of wine making?

Wine making can be traced back to Egypt as far as 5,000 BC, with archaeologists discovering cave wall paintings showing the use of wine and wine jars.

Why was foot stomping used in the past to extract juice from grapes?

Foot stomping was used because it applied relatively gentle pressure, avoiding the release of bitter tannins or astringent compounds, and the low temperature of the human body did not release excessive heat, which was beneficial for maintaining fermentation conditions.

What factors influence the selection of grapes for wine making?

Factors such as the type of wine desired, climate, soil composition, and vineyard location play crucial roles in grape selection, as different grapes contribute unique flavors, aromas, and characteristics.

How is the optimal ripeness of grapes determined for harvesting?

Vineyardists inspect samples of clusters of wine grapes with a refractometer, a handheld device that allows them to accurately check the amount of sugar in the grapes, to determine if they are ready to be picked.

What is the purpose of mechanical harvesters in modern vineyards?

Mechanical harvesters, and in some cases robots, are used to gather grapes, significantly decreasing the time it takes to harvest and eliminating the need for handpicking, which was the norm in the past.

How does the process of crushing grapes differ between white and red wine production?

For white wine, all grape skins are separated from the must before fermentation, while for red wine, the whole crushed grape, including the skin, goes into the fermentation tank to extract color, tannins, and additional flavors during fermentation.

What role does yeast play in the wine fermentation process?

Yeast, either wild or cultured, is fed into the fermentation tank or vat to turn the sugar in the must into alcohol, which is a crucial step in transforming grapes into wine.

Why might wine makers add sugar to the wine must during production?

Sugar may be added, a process called chaptalization, to increase the alcoholic content, usually because the grapes have not received enough sun prior to harvesting.

How does the aging process influence the wine's characteristics?

Aging, which can occur in subterranean cellars, stainless steel tanks, or oak barrels, imparts additional flavors and aromas to the wine, influencing its complexity and structure.

What is the purpose of fining and filtration in wine production?

Fining agents such as Bentonite or egg whites are added to bind with undesirable particles, allowing them to settle and be easily removed. Filtration further refines the wine's clarity.

What is the significance of the vintage year on a wine label?

The vintage year indicates the year in which the grapes used to make the wine were harvested, reflecting the specific growing season and weather conditions that can significantly impact the wine's characteristics and quality.