TLE Wine Making Terms

Wine

an alcoholic beverage made only from fermented grapes.

Viticulture

The cultivation and harvesting of grapes

Vineyard

An area of land where grapes are grown for making wines.

Vinification

The complete wine production process from grape selection through bottling.

Winery

The place where wine is produced.

Oenology

The branch of science dealing with wine and winemaking.

Filtration

Wine passes through filter material
removes large particles while allowing liquid through

Fining

Agents bind with unwanted molecules (colloids)
common agents: gelatine, isinglass, egg whites, casein, bentonite, carbon
Bound particles precipitate to bottom

Racking

Moving wine between containers using gravity (not pumps) to remove sediments

Aging

Reactions that improve wine flavor

Maturation

Changes after fermentation before bottling

Oak barrels

preferred for oxygen exposure and flavor development

Stainless steel tanks

common for white wines

Ceramic tanks

 alternative option

Bottle aging

Direct bottling after clarification

Aging Factors

Time period depends on grape variety, wine style, winemaker preferences

Quality Control

Wine cellar storage for aging wines; Periodic lab tests monitor aging progress; Winemaker can adjust if results don’t meet expectations

Final Packaging

Bottled with screw cap or cork; Numerous techniques and choices throughout process create varied end results