Table of Contents
Manufacturing Process of Wines
Fermentation
- Grapes crushed → must + yeast
- Fermentation begins → alcohol + carbon dioxide
- 10% to 12% alcohol is standard – in case of most wines, sugar finishes before yeast.
- Left to nature, almost all wines would be dry – except the rare naturally sweet wines.
- Often, during fermentation, a thick residue forms on the top and acts as a cap. This is broke up regularly for continued (but controlled) air-contact.
- The casks are sealed but lose some wine through evaporation. The resultant empty space is called ullage. This is filled up with more wine as too much air will render the wine acetic acid.
- In many cases, fermentation is forcibly stopped by adding spirits, adding sulphur or micro-filtration.
Care of the Wine
- Now a strictly controlled process in most countries – not an easy task for the maître de chais.
- Racking – the wine is repeatedly racked. Its allowed to settle and drawn into fresh casks. The lees (residue) get separated.
- Fining – even after racking the wine is not completely clear. The fine particles are removed by using fining agents like isinglass, egg-white, etc.
- Ageing – the wine is matured further to bring it to its prime. Different wines need different ageing periods – from 6 months to 5 years to 10 years and more.
- Bottling – most wines improve in the bottle – shorter for whites and longer for reds.
- Corking – results in continued air-contact – minute, but does make a difference.
- Corks are made with the bark of the oak tree. Deforestation controls has resulted in the introduction of fireboard/plastic corks, even screw caps.
Vector illustration of wine making. How wine is made, wine elements, creating a wine, winemaker tool set and vineyard, flat infographic. Production of alcoholic beverages.