How Do You Tell When Wine Grapes Are Ripe and Ready for Harvesting?
2169
How do you know when wine grapes are ripe for harvest? What sort of testing is done to ensure that they are ripe from both a visual and scientific perspective? How do underripe and overripe grapes affect the final outcome of a wine? Does this change with vintages? Each harvest presents a daunting question: .. 
Winemaking 101 – Part II: Fermentation — Crafting the “Juice”
900
The Juice We explored how wine is grown in our last discussion. Now we’ll explore how those gorgeous bunches of grapes turn from orbs of promise to barrels of wine. From red to white, sparkling to fortified, winemaking follows a fascinating process of craft and chemistry that mankind began refining .. 
Winemaking 101 – Part I: Growing Vines in the Vineyard
536
Taking the Dive: Winemaking & Wine Growing Part One: You Gotta Grow it First So, you like your bottles and glasses, and they like you back. But you want more. From pet vines (tastier than succulents, easier than orchids) to getting your hands wet in the cellar, the world of wine growing and making .. 
What is Malolactic Fermentation?
1206
Malolactic fermentation is a winemaking process by which certain bacteria convert sharp malic (apple) acid, found naturally in wine, to less sour lactic (milk) acid. Since malic acid remaining in red wines can make their tannins taste harsher, this softening is desired for almost all red wines. It also .. 
What Does ‘Sur Lie’ Mean When Aging Wine?
1452
Sur Lie If you’ve ever found the aroma of freshly baked croissants in your glass of Champagne, then you’ve found the mysterious Sur Lie (Suhr Lee, for my fellow Americans). While this winemaking marvel happens in a great number of wines, it’s most pronounced in a classic glass of bubbles from France’s ..