Winemaking refers to both the process of making wine and the pride and happiness of producing it as a hobby. Winemaking can be done by an individual or by companies. Of course, the large companies that take pride in being the biggest players in the wine industry invest heavily in research and development. In order to produce wines of quality, consistency, quantity, and a high price, they hire people who are trained and experienced in all facets of the process.
Winemaking or vinifying is the actual production of red wine, beginning with the choice of the grape, the fermentation of the juice, and its subsequent bottling. The history of winemaking spans hundreds of years. Winemaking science is called oenology. Today, a winemaker might also be described as a vitemaker.
In order to make wine, one must begin with grape pulp. Grape pulp will contain the sugars that make wine possible. Next, it must be fermented in an area where the temperature and acidity level is right for the grapes to ferment and turn sugar into alcohol. Then, the wine making process must be continued to remove the remaining alcohol and carbon dioxide from the mixture. It is then passed through molds to form a product called wine.
There are many techniques used in the art of winemaking. One of the most common and time-consuming types of winemaking is the crushing process. Winemakers pound the grapes and mix them with water until the solid materials become very smooth. Then, the winemaker manually weighs the mixture to make sure that it is light enough for fermentation and removes any bits that are too large or heavy for the molds to bear. The water must be boiled first to reduce sugar content before the mixture is transferred to other vessels for fermentation.
Some winemakers use stainless steel drums to speed up the fermentation process. Other winemakers, however, prefer plastic drums because they do not heat or break down the tannins in the grape pulp during the fermentation process. When fermentation is complete, the mixture is ready to be bottled. Winemakers then bottle the wine at the proper aging temperature and allow it to mature naturally before it is sold.
Winemaking can be considered a science or an art. Primarily, winemaking refers to the harvesting, preparation, aging and creation of alcoholic beverages such as wine, beer and spirits. Winemakers can produce every variety of alcoholic beverage out there by utilizing their knowledge and skills. This includes the different ways in which grapes are harvested, crushing them, fermenting them, pressing them and further blending them.
In the olden days, winemakers would ferment their grapes in oak barrels. Today, they prefer stainless steel or plastic barrels to keep the fermentation process simple. One important factor in wine making is how winemakers handle their ingredients. During fermentation, winemakers will add sugar, yeast and other microorganisms into the containers to help initiate the fermentation process. These organisms can provide food for the microorganisms, which will later turn into sugar once the fermentation process is over. The longer the fermentation process goes on, the sweeter the wine becomes.
During the next stage, winemakers will place the finished products into wooden barrels, which will release the carbon dioxide so that it can seep into the wine and provide the alcohol. If carbon dioxide is present, this means that the winemaker has used up the sugar that was available from the grapes. Winemakers then add chemicals to encourage the carbon dioxide to be released again, which leads to the distinctive taste and aroma of a particular wine.
