Each individual who enjoys alcohol will usually have a preferred concoction. Some may like to drink stronger alcohols like vodka or tequila, while others prefer to stick to milder options like beer or wine.
If you prefer to consume and taste different wines, then you’ve probably tried a wide variety of reds and whites. After all, the wide selection of wines means that there are endless flavors to experience. Some bottles are also bound to suit your preferences better than others, depending on what you’re looking for in a glass of alcohol.
However, before any bottle gets sold in the market, it undergoes a very intensive process first. Winemaking is an age-old craft that’s practiced worldwide. Today, most wine producers can produce large quantities of wine thanks to modern technology. If you don’t know much about wine, here are some facts that you may find interesting:
1. Yeast Is a Primary Ingredient In Winemaking
Before any grape juice ends up on your table as a bottle of wine, it undergoes an intricate process first. Winemakers would usually grow just one of two types of grapes each season since different varieties will require individual care to thrive.
Winegrowers monitor its growth and ensure that the conditions where their crops are grown are ideal for the proper cultivation of grapes. It’s vital that they harvest the grapes when it’s fully ripe to ensure that they’ll produce good quality wine.
Once the harvest is finished, the fruits are then prepared for fermentation. The stalks and leaves are removed from the grapes to ensure that the wine won’t be contaminated with unwanted substances. Afterward, they crush the fruits to extract the juice and prepare it for the next step.
Yeast is a crucial ingredient in wine fermentation. It’s the ingredient that converts the sugar content of the fruit into alcohol. Without it, the extracted liquid will just remain as a non-alcoholic beverage.
The yeast eats the sugar content in the juice and converts it into alcohol during the fermentation stage. Once this process is done, the wine can be prepared for aging or bottling.
2. Wide Variety Of Flavor Notes
If you’re an avid wine drinker, then you probably have a preferred drink. You may like some bottles more than others, and there may be some types of wines you simply can’t stand. This isn’t unusual since each variety has a unique set of flavor and aroma notes. The quality of a wine is influenced by how the grapes were grown and how well a wine distillery processed it.
It’s possible for you to pick up flavors like vanilla, coconut, or even chocolate in your drink, even if those ingredients were never used during the making of the wine. This is because the aging process can change its chemical properties and cause flavors to develop.
The wide variety of notes in wines is what makes it a perfect accompaniment for meals. It can complement and enhance the taste of whatever you’re eating so you can enjoy your food better. For example, bold red wines pair best with well-seasoned steak or other red meat. On the other hand, milder wines like Chardonnay match with white meats like fish or chicken dishes.
3. The Bottle Can Tell You A Lot About A Wine
Some established wine-producing regions have their signature in every bottle they sell. You can easily tell where and what type of wine you’re getting just by reading the label or hearing its name.
For example, if someone offers you a Riesling, you should expect it to be a white wine since it’s made from a white grape variety. The label can also tell you the wine’s alcohol content as well as the year it was made. If you’re an avid wine enthusiast, you know that not all bottles are designed and labeled the same way.
One very distinct wine you may have tried is the Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Unlike other wines sourced from more than one region, this variety is limited to an appellation in southeastern France. It’s easily distinguishable since the bottles of this wine have an emblem that looks like a papal tiara. You’ll see that all Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines will have this signature regardless of who the local producer is.
4. The Bottle Plays A Vital Role
The packaging of wine isn’t only for aesthetic purposes. It also preserves the quality of the liquid inside it. The main reason wines are stored in tinted bottles is to protect them from heat or direct sunlight. High temperatures can alter the chemical properties and may even spoil it, so it’s vital that winemakers choose a suitable container for their products.
Wines are also usually packaged in corked and elongated bottles to make them easier to transport and store. The cork serves as a protection against oxidation since the taste of a wine can change once it comes into contact with oxygen while the shape of the container makes it easier to handle and store.
5. Aging Is Not Mandatory
Contrary to the assumption that wine tastes better as it ages, not all types are meant to be stored for a long time. Only one percent of all the bottles produced worldwide are ideal for long-term storage. The rest of the bottles sold in the market are ideally suited for immediate consumption since their flavor notes can diminish over time.
Only premium or expensive wines are suitable for aging. Letting them sit for a long time will allow their flavors to mature, so once you open them, the notes you’ll experience will be deeper and more robust.
If you get your hands on an affordable bottle, don’t think about storing it for too long since it will only spoil the wine. Ideally, it would be best if you consumed bottles that are unfit for aging within five years so you can enjoy its flavors to the fullest.
Final Thoughts
Winemaking is a very intricate process that’s been practiced for a long time. Although many things have changed thanks to the invention of modern tools, the essence of wine production remains the same. Each time you open a nice bottle of wine, remember that it’s a product of hard work and years of history and expertise.
