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.

About the Author

Muna wa Wanjiru is a web administrator and has been researching and reporting on internet marketing for years. For more information on Wine Making, visit his site at Wine Making