Wine Production Basics

Wine Basics

• Wine is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented grape juice
• Fermentation is the transformation of sugar into alcohol through the action of yeast
• Vintage refers to the year of the harvest, but it's not a compulsory information to be included on the label

Grape Species

• There are many different species of vine, but grape growers are only concerned with a handful of species
• Vitis Vinifera is the main Eurasian species, producing nearly all the grapes used in winemaking
• American Vines are native to North America, rarely used to produce grapes for winemaking due to unattractive flavors
• However, American Vines are resistant to Phylloxera, a insect that attacks Vitis Vinifera

Grape Varieties

• There are thousands of grape varieties belonging to Vitis Vinifera
• The principal differences between grape varieties are variations in color and flavor
• Clones are genetically identical vines that can still show variations due to mutations, sometimes leading to positive results
• Crossings are the creation of new varieties by crossing two different grape varieties
• Hybrids are vines coming from two different parents, often used for crossings

Rootstocks

• Rootstocks are used to graft American Vines onto Vitis Vinifera to prevent Phylloxera attacks

Growing Environment

• Vines need five things to grow: heat, sunlight, water, nutrients, and carbon dioxide
• Heat is essential, with temperatures below 10°C being detrimental to growth

Wine Varietals

• Sauvignon Blanc is a highly aromatic varietal with high acidity, well-suited for cool climates
• Chardonnay is a versatile varietal that can grow in a wide range of climates

Sherry

• Sherry is a fortified wine from Spain, made from three white varietals: Palomino, Pedro Ximénez, and Muscat of Alexandria
• Sherry undergoes biological ageing, where Flor develops and adds complexity to the wine
• Oxidative ageing occurs when the wine is fortified to above 17% ABV, preventing Flor development

Fortified Muscat

• Beaumes-de-Venise is a youthful, unaged Muscat from the Rhone Valley, producing a white, sweet, and floral wine
• RutherGlen is a fully developed, aged Muscat from Australia, producing a luscious, sweet wine

Port

• Port is a fortified wine from Portugal, made from five white varietals: Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barocca, Tinta Cao, and Touriga Franca
• Ruby Port is a blend of wines aged for 2-3 years, with a ruby color and sweet flavor
• Tawny Port is aged for a similar period, with a more brown color
• Late Bottled Vintage (LBV) is a vintage wine aged for 4-6 years, usually unfiltered
• Vintage Port must come from a single Quinta (single estate)

Ice Wine

• Ice wine is a type of dessert wine produced from grapes that have frozen on the vine
• The sugars and other dissolved solids don't freeze, allowing for a more concentrated grape juice to develop
• The grape must be pressed from the frozen grapes, resulting in a smaller amount of sweet juice
• Ice wine is mainly produced in Canada and Germany, with Vidal being a popular varietal

Winemaking of Sweet Wine

• Stopping fermentation through fortification or adding SO2
• Adding a sweet component (Rectified Concentrated Grape Must)
• Costly and time-consuming process

Sparkling Wines

• Riddling and disgorgement are processes used in sparkling wine production to remove excess yeast
• There are different methods of producing sparkling wines, including Carbonation, Asti Method, Ancestral method, and Traditional method

Learn about the basics of wine production, including fermentation, vintage, and vine species. This quiz covers the fundamentals of wine making.