A refractometer is a tool used in viticulture and winemaking to measure the concentration of grape must, indicating its sugar content and potential alcohol level. By analyzing the refraction of light through the grape juice, winemakers can determine the optimal time for harvest and monitor the fermentation process.
Glossary
Sur Lie is a French winemaking practice where wine is aged on its lees (dead yeast cells) for an extended period. This method enhances complexity, imparts a creamy texture, and can add flavours such as bread or yeast to the wine. Sur Lie aging is commonly used in the production […]
Still wine refers to wine without significant carbonation, distinguishing it from sparkling or semi-sparkling wines. It includes the majority of white, red, and rosé wines and can range from dry to sweet, offering a vast array of flavours and styles based on grape variety, terroir, and winemaking techniques.
Vinification is the process of turning grapes into wine, encompassing all steps from harvesting, crushing, and fermenting to aging and bottling. The vinification process varies depending on the wine style being produced, with each decision by the winemaker influencing the wine’s final character and quality.
A winery is a facility where wine is produced, from grape crushing and fermentation to aging and bottling. Wineries can range from small, family-run operations to large-scale commercial producers and often include tasting rooms where visitors can sample wines.
The aroma of wine is the scent primarily derived from the grape variety and the fermentation process. It’s what you smell when you first sniff a wine. Aromas can range from fruity and floral to spicy and earthy, depending on the grape variety used and how the wine is made. […]
Clarification is a winemaking process used to remove suspended particles from wine, resulting in a clear and bright appearance. Methods can include settling, filtration, and fining, where substances are added to bind with and precipitate solids. Clarification not only improves the wine’s aesthetic but can also stabilize it, reducing the […]
En Primeur refers to the practice of purchasing wine early while it is still in the barrel, before it is bottled. This system is most associated with Bordeaux but is used in other wine regions as well. Buying En Primeur allows consumers to invest in potentially high-demand wines at possibly […]
Gewürztraminer is an aromatic white grape variety known for producing highly fragrant wines with notes of lychee, rose petals, and spices. Originating from the Alsace region of France and also grown in Germany, Italy, and New World regions, Gewürztraminer wines can range from dry to sweet and are appreciated for […]