Monday, December 2, 2013

How Is White Wine Made?

When we go to a posh restaurant, the wine menu is something that all of us eagerly look forward to because good wine is something that our palates rarely come across. Wine, after all is another type of alcohol but it is a league of its own and is always a symbol that is associated with elegance and sophistication. While anyone can drink and appreciate a good glass of wine, it is a completely different matter when it comes to separating good wine from the best. While wine tasting is not everyone's cup of tea, however professional wine critics are all very familiar with the concept that in order to recognize white wine of superior quality one must be familiar with the process with which such wine is made which happens to be a surprisingly complex and demanding process. Archaeologists have substantial evidence to believe that the wine making process dates back to around 8000 BC; thus making it evident how big a part wine of human history.Whats So different between Red And white Wines?Wine by definition is an alcoholic beverage and is traditionally classified into two types: Red and White Wine. The brewing of both types includes the fermentation of grapes with yeast in order to form alcohol. White wine is differentiated from red by the fact before processing the grapes their skins are peeled off. The grapes for quality white wine are picked at night because at that time of the day, the acids within the grape are in abundance, hence maximizing the crisp flavor associated with the best white wine. The pure grape juice from within is extracted with the help of a pressing process known as the free run using little pressure. More pressure is used in the case of "press juice", where the liquid from the skin of the grape is extracted. These juices are then filtered and fermented with the yeast separately.Does Container Matter?The container which is used is also a factor, as far giving the wine its "taste" is concerned. Stainless steel containers give it a simpler taste while using an oak barrel gives it a heavier, full-bodied flavor. The yeast is then added in a heat and temperature controlled environment so to convert sugar to alcohol and carbon dioxide and this process is fermentation process is continued for 4 to 6 weeks.After the required time has elapsed, it now time for filtering the wine, so that only the pure liquid goes through the bottling process and not any odd bits of grape or yeast. The use of binding agents such as egg white, gelatin or milk protein makes sure that the debris is bound together. The expiration period of the wine is elongated by means of Sulfites. Then comes the bottling process.Effect of time on WineUnfortunately, a great amount of time is spent form the time the white wine is issued form the winery to the time it actually reaches your lips. Even though the wine has been made, its storage is also an important factor in the making procedure. Wine is sensitive to external factors such as heat, temperature, humidity and vibrations. Therefore for good white wine to be reaching your lips, it has to be stored in some sort of a wine cellar, which either has a climate control system or is a traditional cellar in the basement. Wine is a perishable food item but at certain temperatures in the range of 55 to 60, the wine is able to preserve its delicate and subtle virtues.This entire procedure makes quite an impression does it not?Thus the next time you are served white wine, whether at home or in a restaurant, keep in mind the history and human effort that went into delivering it to you.For more information on making great wine visit me at http://winowinemaking.com/category/making-homemade-wines.

I have been making wine in my home for some years now. I have put together a small website to explain some of the adventures I have had in wine making and offer up my countless hours of trial and error so that you may enjoy wine making as much as i do. Please sign up for my news letter with tips and tricks http://winowinemaking.comBlair Holand

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