WINE An enological overview by Mike Diliberto

GRAPES INTO WINE

[Speaking about wine drinkers]“He does not have to know anything about the biochemistry of fermentation, any more than he needs to know the difference between an ohm and a watt in order to turn on a light. …The satisfaction to be had from wine increases greatly if one knows what it is, how and why one wine differs from another, the sequence of changes that take place as grapes become wine.”

- Philip M. Wagner

HOW?From grape juice to fine wine…

FERMENTATION

FRUIT

Flavor Color Sugar Content Yeast

TESTS FOR SUGAR

Approx: BRIX(.58) = Alcohol %

FRUIT

ANATOMY OF A VINE

HARVESTING

By Hand Mechanical Harvester

HARVESTING

CRUSHING

THE CRUSHER - STEMMER

PRIMARY FERMENTATION

PRESSING

Juice Exits HereJuice Exits Here

Ratchet HeadRatchet Head

Pressure PlatePressure Plate

Grape BasketGrape Basket

Drive ScrewDrive Screw

PRESSES THROUGH THE YEARS

Our first press, purchased 1986

Ruins of the Roman Forum, 500 BC

SECONDARY FERMENTATION

HERE’S TO OAK BARRELS…

SECONDARY FERMENTATION

KEEP THE O2 OUT

REMEMBER THE CO2 !

THE BUBBLER

CO2 Bubbles Out

O2 Can’t get in

IT GETS BETTER WITH AGE

Now we wait… 1 year + aging..

BOTTLING AND CORKING

AND THE FINISHING TOUCH

READY TO ENJOY