{"id":183394,"date":"2023-08-02T16:29:16","date_gmt":"2023-08-02T14:29:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.refonte-adv.votre-projet.com\/how-to-produce-wine-the-winemaking-process\/"},"modified":"2026-04-28T13:52:24","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T11:52:24","slug":"how-to-produce-wine-the-winemaking-process","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/en\/how-to-produce-wine-the-winemaking-process\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Produce Wine: The Winemaking Process"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Wine tasting is a particularly enjoyable experience, but do you know how wine is produced? How to \u201cmake wine\u201d out of fruit grown on vines? What <strong>vinification process<\/strong> is used to produce this age-old drink from juicy grapes? What does direct pressing, malolactic fermentation, pellicular maceration, wine aging, or varietal blending involve?<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In oenology, it is important to know how wine is produced to fully understand and appreciate the subtleties of each wine you taste.\u00a0 This <strong>comprehensive winemaking guide<\/strong> explains each step of the production process in detail, from the vineyard to the bottle:<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#viticulture\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Viticulture<\/strong><\/span><\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#vineyards\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Vineyards, terroirs, and grape varieties<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#harvesting-sorting\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Harvesting and sorting<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#vinification\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Vinification<\/strong><\/span><\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#Destemming\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Destemming<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Treading-or-pressing\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Treading or pressing<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Settling-racking\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Settling and racking<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Alcoholic-fermentation\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Alcoholic fermentation<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Maceration\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Maceration<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Running-off-and-pressing\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Running off and pressing<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Malolactic-fermentation\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Malolactic fermentation<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#Clarification-and-filtration\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Clarification and filtration<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#maturation\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Maturation<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#blending\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Blending<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#bottling\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Bottling<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#cellaring\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Cellaring<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/Automne-DSCF9393-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-183242\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Automne-DSCF9393-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Automne-DSCF9393-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Automne-DSCF9393-64x96.jpg 64w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Automne-DSCF9393-300x450.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Automne-DSCF9393-28x42.jpg 28w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Automne-DSCF9393-40x60.jpg 40w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Automne-DSCF9393-scaled.jpg 1365w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Automne-DSCF9393-1320x1980.jpg 1320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p style=\"margin-top:-40px\" class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">\u00a9 Alexandre Couvreux<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><em>These processes may vary depending on whether red, white, ros\u00e9, or sparkling wine is being produced. There are also many local variants, with specific techniques for certain regional wines, making each vineyard\u2019s cru an original creation.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"viticulture\">Viticulture: growing vines and grapes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It would take more than a book to describe the art of <strong>cultivating vines<\/strong>, mastered by mankind since ancient times. This article will only scratch the surface of the mysteries of winegrowing and its <em>savoir-faire<\/em>. You can appreciate its richness and diversity on a wine tourism trip around the beautiful <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/\/en\/product\/map-of-french-vineyards\/\"><strong>vineyards of France<\/strong><\/a><\/span>. We\u2019ll then go through all the stages of wine production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"padding:56.25% 0 0 0;position:relative;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/187953554?badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;\" title=\"L'Atelier du Vin - Au Coeur des Vignes de Champagne\/In the Heart of Champagne Vineyards\"><\/iframe><\/div><script src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/api\/player.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"vineyards\">Vineyards: a meeting of terroirs and grape varieties<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The first step to <strong>making wine<\/strong> is to grow vines, which produce grapes.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Winegrowers need to have a good understanding of the local soil composition and climate characteristics to set up a vineyard and grow the right grape varieties. An AOC (Appellation d\u2019Origine Contr\u00f4l\u00e9e) or IGP (Indication G\u00e9ographique Prot\u00e9g\u00e9e) vineyard can only produce a <em>vin de pays<\/em> using certain recognized varieties.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>A <strong><em>c\u00e9page<\/em><\/strong> is a grape variety whose properties directly influence the quality of wine and its aromas. Cabernet Sauvignon or Syrah black grapes, Pinot Gris red grapes, Riesling white grapes\u2026 Winegrowers will opt to grow certain varieties, with their aromatic signatures, rather than others, depending on the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/\/en\/a-quick-guide-to-frances-wine-regions-and-vineyards\/\"><strong>wine region<\/strong><\/a><\/span> and type of red, white, or ros\u00e9 wine they want to produce.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Wine can be labelled <strong>organic<\/strong> if the winegrowing area is cultivated <strong>organically or biodynamically<\/strong>, using specific techniques, equipment and products, and complies with other environmental and phytosanitary criteria. Nevertheless, other winegrowers also produce wine that respects nature and the health of its consumers, without an organic certification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"harvesting-sorting\">Harvesting and sorting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Winegrowers start the <strong>harvesting<\/strong> process when the white, red, or black <strong>grapes<\/strong> reach their desired maturity (color, size, taste, natural sugar levels, etc). This age-old French tradition takes place towards the end of summer, from mid-August up until early autumn for some wine-growing terroirs, known as late harvesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/vendanges-DSCF5496-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-183203\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/vendanges-DSCF5496-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/vendanges-DSCF5496-64x96.jpg 64w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/vendanges-DSCF5496-300x450.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/vendanges-DSCF5496-28x42.jpg 28w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/vendanges-DSCF5496-40x60.jpg 40w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/vendanges-DSCF5496-600x900.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/vendanges-DSCF5496.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"margin-top:-40px\" class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">\u00a9 Alexandre Couvreux<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p><strong>Harvesting<\/strong> consists in hand-picking ripe and healthy grapes (a more qualitative method that involves picking them with secateurs and carrying them back) or using a harvesting machine (a more quantitative technique requiring more sorting after).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>At the end of the harvest, the grapes must be <strong>carefully sorted<\/strong> to make the best quality wine possible. Juice can be extracted from the grapes and wine produced through vinification after this sorting phase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"vinification\">Vinification: the transformation of grapes into wine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>During the <strong>vinification process<\/strong>, winegrowers perform their winemaking alchemy in a winery or cooperative cellar. How are grapes <strong>vinified<\/strong>? There are several steps to <strong>producing good quality wine<\/strong>. Before starting the alcoholic fermentation process, the grapes must undergo several operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" src=\"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/Vigne-1024x681.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-183236\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Vigne-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Vigne-64x43.jpg 64w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Vigne-450x299.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Vigne-96x64.jpg 96w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Vigne-42x28.jpg 42w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Vigne-60x40.jpg 60w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Vigne-1320x877.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Vigne.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Destemming\">Destemming<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>How do you go from whole bunches to stalkless grapes? With the <strong>destemming <\/strong>phase. Destemming consists in removing the stalks, i.e., the stems on each bunch so that only the grapes remain. Some dry white wine producers prefer to skip this stage because the <strong>tannins<\/strong> in the green stems provide the green aroma, acidity, astringency, and herbal notes they\u2019re looking for.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"844\" src=\"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/eraflage-edited.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-183297\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/eraflage-edited.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/eraflage-edited-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/eraflage-edited-64x36.jpg 64w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/eraflage-edited-450x253.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/eraflage-edited-96x54.jpg 96w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/eraflage-edited-42x24.jpg 42w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/eraflage-edited-60x34.jpg 60w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/eraflage-edited-1320x743.jpg 1320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Treading-or-pressing\">Extracting grape juice by crushing or pressing, depending on the type of wine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The next step is <strong>crushing or pressing the grapes<\/strong> to extract the juice. There is a different process for each type of wine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Crushing<\/strong> is mainly reserved for red wines, to color the juice with the grapes\u2019 skin. Traditionally, it is known as treading, which involves stomping on the grapes with feet. However today, for hygiene reasons, this process tends to be completed with a machine. The grapes are crushed to obtain the must, made of juice, skin, pulp, and seeds.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Grapes for white wines are placed directly in a <strong>press<\/strong> to separate the juice from the skin and flesh, to maintain its light color. The first press produces \u201cfree-run wine\u201d, whereas the second <strong>press<\/strong> results in a more concentrated and tannic extract, known as \u201cpress wine\u201d.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Either of these options can be used for ros\u00e9 wine: a very light ros\u00e9 wine is obtained by pressing, whereas a well-colored ros\u00e9 wine, known as a \u201cvin ros\u00e9 de saign\u00e9e\u201d, is obtained by treading (or crushing). <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/36459_Pressoir_Arche_aux_Oiseaux___Photo_2-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-183231\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/36459_Pressoir_Arche_aux_Oiseaux___Photo_2-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/36459_Pressoir_Arche_aux_Oiseaux___Photo_2-64x48.jpg 64w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/36459_Pressoir_Arche_aux_Oiseaux___Photo_2-450x338.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/36459_Pressoir_Arche_aux_Oiseaux___Photo_2-96x72.jpg 96w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/36459_Pressoir_Arche_aux_Oiseaux___Photo_2-42x32.jpg 42w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/36459_Pressoir_Arche_aux_Oiseaux___Photo_2-60x45.jpg 60w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/36459_Pressoir_Arche_aux_Oiseaux___Photo_2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/36459_Pressoir_Arche_aux_Oiseaux___Photo_2-1320x990.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/36459_Pressoir_Arche_aux_Oiseaux___Photo_2.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Settling-racking\">Settling and racking white wine and light ros\u00e9s<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The next step is <strong>settling<\/strong>: the juice from the white grapes is poured into a vat, where it settles and further clarifies. Once the sediment has settled at the bottom, the clear liquid is <strong>racked <\/strong>into a clean vat. Black or red grapes do not undergo this clarification process and are sent straight to the fermentation and maceration phase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Alcoholic-fermentation\">Alcoholic fermentation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Given the right conditions, grape juice will <strong>ferment<\/strong> and turn into wine! Fermentation is key to the winemaking process, as the sugar in the liquid is transformed into alcohol.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>This chemical reaction occurs naturally thanks to the yeast in grapes. Alternatively, the <strong>alcoholic fermentation of wine<\/strong> can be triggered by adding yeast into the vat. Alcoholic fermentation works when it generates heat. This type of yeast uses the sugar in grapes as fuel to produce energy and transform it into wine alcohol.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Red wine ferments and macerates directly<\/li>\n<li>White wine and ros\u00e9 ferments after pressing or clarification<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Maceration\">Maceration of red, ros\u00e9 de saign\u00e9e and colored wines<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For red wines, <strong>maceration<\/strong> is key. Black or red grapes must macerate slowly, without prior settling or racking. This enables all the aromas, and tannins in the skin, pulp, and seeds to infuse the fruity, fermented juice.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Several techniques are used to enhance and intensify the grape flesh: e.g., pumping over, rack and return, and treading which consists in moving and <strong>mixing <\/strong>the marc that forms at the top and bottom of the vat, with the fermented must in between.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The <strong>maceration of ros\u00e9<\/strong> only lasts a few hours, just long enough to give it a nice color. This is known as a <em>ros\u00e9 de saign\u00e9e<\/em>, that has macerated for less than a day, before the alcoholic fermentation. Red wine, on the other hand, can macerate for several days. A strong and tannic red wine macerates for several weeks to acquire its full aromatic depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"616\" src=\"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/maceration-1024x616.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-183291\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/maceration-1024x616.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/maceration-64x38.jpg 64w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/maceration-450x271.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/maceration-96x58.jpg 96w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/maceration-42x25.jpg 42w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/maceration-60x36.jpg 60w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/maceration-1320x794.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/maceration.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Running-off-and-pressing\">Running off and pressing red wine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Once the <strong>must <\/strong>from the black grapes has properly fermented and macerated, the young wine or <em>vin de goutte<\/em> is separated from the flesh by <strong><em>\u00e9coulage<\/em><\/strong> (running off), i.e., by draining the liquid into another container without the solid residue (which is pressed separately). The remaining skin can then be pressed to extract \u201c<strong>press wine<\/strong>\u201d, or <em>vin de presse<\/em>, which is highly concentrated and tannic. The producer then subtly blends this liquid with the lighter \u201c<strong>free run wine<\/strong>\u201d, or <em>vin de goutte<\/em>, until they obtain the right aromatic balance and desired notes.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"567\" src=\"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_7182-1024x567.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-183331\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_7182-1024x567.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_7182-64x35.jpg 64w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_7182-450x249.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_7182-96x53.jpg 96w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_7182-42x23.jpg 42w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_7182-60x33.jpg 60w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_7182-1320x731.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_7182.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Malolactic-fermentation\">Malolactic fermentation of supple wines<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Malolactic fermentation<\/strong> is used to reduce the acidity of wine (mainly reds) and make it smoother, for a more supple, round, and silky texture. This secondary fermentation converts <strong>malic acid into lactic acid<\/strong>. This chemical reaction, caused by lactic acid bacteria, produces carbon dioxide in the vats.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Malolactic fermentation can take place at the same time as alcoholic fermentation or later, after several weeks or months, if producers want to <strong>soften the wine<\/strong>. This process can also be carried out during the maturation phase, e.g., in casks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Clarification-and-filtration\">Clarification and Filtering<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Once all the vinification steps have been completed (fermentation, maceration, pressing, etc.), the wine is <strong>clarified<\/strong> one last time in a new recipient, and <strong>filtered <\/strong>to remove the residual marc, i.e., the grape skins and must residue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"maturation\">Maturation: aging cellared wine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Some wines need to be <strong>matured<\/strong> before bottling to develop their full aromatic and organoleptic potential. This wine is <strong>aged in oak casks<\/strong> (a traditional method), barrels, amphorae, or vats. The type of container used can bring out new aromas and notes.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"722\" src=\"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/fut-de-chene-1-1024x722.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-183302\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/fut-de-chene-1-1024x722.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/fut-de-chene-1-64x45.jpg 64w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/fut-de-chene-1-450x317.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/fut-de-chene-1-96x68.jpg 96w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/fut-de-chene-1-42x30.jpg 42w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/fut-de-chene-1-60x42.jpg 60w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/fut-de-chene-1-1536x1084.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/fut-de-chene-1-1320x931.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/fut-de-chene-1.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Aging wines before bottling<\/strong> helps to develop greater subtlety, thickness, depth, and character. Young wines may thus reveal interesting qualities, depending on the batch, grape varieties, terroir, and climate, such as finesse, suppleness, complexity, or other oenological virtues enjoyed during a tasting experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>During this phase, the <strong>cellar master<\/strong> must regularly taste the wine to decide whether to continue or stop its maturation. If the liquid levels in the vat drop due to slight evaporation, cellar masters can <strong>top it up<\/strong> to prevent oxidation. Aging can last from a few months to several years, especially for <strong>cellared wines<\/strong> and great wines in the making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"blending\">Blending: a skillful blend of grape varieties and vine plots<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Blending<\/strong> follows the vinification and maturation processes. This key stage consists in blending different grape varieties to finally obtain the finished wine. As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, it is important to choose the right grape varieties when setting up a vineyard, according to the terroir and climate.<\/p>\n<p>This choice is crucial when it comes to <strong>blending different grape varieties<\/strong> and juice from different plots and containers (vats, casks, barrels, etc.). The process results in the final batch of the year\u2019s wine. Sometimes, winemakers carry out another cycle of <strong>clarification and filtering <\/strong>before bottling the wine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"bottling\">Bottling: an achievement for winegrowers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>The invention of a <em>boucheuse<\/em>, or corking machine, nearly a century ago, made it easier for winegrowers and merchants in our Champagne vineyards to <strong>bottle wine<\/strong>. Today, and since 1926, our family-owned company, Sanbri SAS, continues to innovate under the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/\/en\/latelier-du-vin-a-powerful-recognised-and-protected-brand\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">strong and protected name of L&#8217;Atelier du Vin<\/a> \u00ae<\/span>, whose French manufacturing <em>savoir-faire<\/em> and high-quality wine tools are renowned around the world.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMAGE-0045-Copie-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-65637\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMAGE-0045-Copie-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMAGE-0045-Copie-300x450.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMAGE-0045-Copie-64x96.jpg 64w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMAGE-0045-Copie-28x42.jpg 28w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMAGE-0045-Copie-40x60.jpg 40w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMAGE-0045-Copie-600x900.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMAGE-0045-Copie.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Bottling<\/strong> is the pinnacle of winemaking and an achievement for winegrowers and producers. The process is usually carried out directly on the property, in the winery, to protect from counterfeits and unauthorized blends.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The wine is gently pumped out of the vats into clean and sterile <strong>glass<\/strong> <strong>bottles <\/strong>up to the correct fill height. A <strong>cork<\/strong> that often bears the name of the vineyard is then quickly inserted into the bottle (synthetic corks or screw-on metal stoppers are also sometimes used).<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/\/en\/meaning-behind-wine-bottle-capsules\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">wine capsule<\/span><\/strong><\/a> is then placed on top to protect the cork, along with a <strong>label <\/strong>bearing the vineyard name and batch reference. Finally, after one last cleaning, the bottles are ready to be <strong>packed in wine cases<\/strong> or boxes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/\/en\/meaning-behind-wine-bottle-capsules\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/Disque-de-Cave-ambiance-paysage-1-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-148580\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Disque-de-Cave-ambiance-paysage-1-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Disque-de-Cave-ambiance-paysage-1-1-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Disque-de-Cave-ambiance-paysage-1-1-96x64.jpg 96w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Disque-de-Cave-ambiance-paysage-1-1-42x28.jpg 42w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Disque-de-Cave-ambiance-paysage-1-1-60x40.jpg 60w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Disque-de-Cave-ambiance-paysage-1-1-1320x880.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Disque-de-Cave-ambiance-paysage-1-1-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Disque-de-Cave-ambiance-paysage-1-1-64x43.jpg 64w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Disque-de-Cave-ambiance-paysage-1-1.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"cellaring\">Aging wine in a cellar<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You may prefer to wait a few years before tasting a <strong><em>vin de garde <\/em><\/strong>to allow it to reach full maturity. Don\u2019t hesitate to ask a wine merchant, sommelier, or oenologist for advice.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Aging <\/strong>should take place in a <strong>wine cellar<\/strong>. Such spaces must provide certain <a href=\"https:\/\/www.architectureinterieureduvin.com\/en\/wine-cellars-guide\/what-are-the-ideal-wine-cellar-conditions-for-wine-storage\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">wine preservation conditions<\/span><\/strong><\/a>, including temperature, humidity levels, light, air quality, and stability.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.architectureinterieureduvin.com\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"599\" src=\"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/AIV-Chateau-de-la-Gaude-1-min-43-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-183210\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/AIV-Chateau-de-la-Gaude-1-min-43-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/AIV-Chateau-de-la-Gaude-1-min-43-1-64x48.jpg 64w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/AIV-Chateau-de-la-Gaude-1-min-43-1-450x337.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/AIV-Chateau-de-la-Gaude-1-min-43-1-96x72.jpg 96w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/AIV-Chateau-de-la-Gaude-1-min-43-1-42x31.jpg 42w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/AIV-Chateau-de-la-Gaude-1-min-43-1-60x45.jpg 60w, https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/AIV-Chateau-de-la-Gaude-1-min-43-1-600x449.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><em>Is it finally time to taste that bottle of wine you\u2019ve been saving? Check out our <\/em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/en\/product-category\/corkscrews-our-collection\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em>collections of exceptional corkscrews<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/span><em> and <\/em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"\/?product_cat=sets-and-collections\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em>oenology tool cases<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/span> <em>by L\u2019Atelier du Vin, a French manufacturer serving the wine world and connoisseur oenophiles since 1926.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\"><strong>Copyrights.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Editorial, visual and graphic elements strictly linked to copyrights. For any request of partial or total use, contact us.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In oenology, it is important to know how wine is produced to fully understand and appreciate the subtleties of each wine you taste.  This comprehensive winemaking guide explains each step of the production process in detail, from the vineyard to the bottle.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8266,"featured_media":183269,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[301],"type_article":[764,790],"class_list":["post-183394","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-invite","tag-guidelines-tips","type_article-guide","type_article-in-the-vineyards"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/183394","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8266"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=183394"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/183394\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":308167,"href":"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/183394\/revisions\/308167"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/183269"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=183394"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=183394"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=183394"},{"taxonomy":"type_article","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.atelierduvin.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/type_article?post=183394"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}