How to Make Wine

There are several steps to making wine. Following is a brief overview of each of these steps:

Harvesting. The first step is to harvest the grapes. This can be done by two means:

By Machine. Machines have plastic or rubber rods that beat the grapes from the vine. This is not a desirable option for high end wines because leaves, undesirable grapes, and other foreign matter are also collected.
By Hand. This is used predominately in the United States and is the preferred method. Experienced harvesters can use their skills to collect the desirable grapes and thus insure a better end product.

Destemming. This is the process of removing the stems for the grapes. This can be done before or after the crushing of the grapes but is usually done before to insure that the harsh tannins of the stems do not influence the wine.
Crushing. This is the process of breaking the skins to release the fruit. The amount of crushing varies based on the desire of the winemaker. For example, if the winemaker is attempting to create a fruity aroma she may decide to leave the berries nearly intact.
Primary Fermentation. The yeast cells in the wine feed on the sugars and produce carbon dioxide and alcohol in this step. Winemakers often add yeast into the process to insure a stable conversion rather than rely on the natural yeast found on the grapes.
Pressing. In this step, the grapes are pressed even further to extract more juice. The juice from the crushing process is usually considered to be of higher quality because the free run juice has less contact with the more tannic skins and stems. However, many wine makers use pressing to increase the yield from their grapes. This pressed juice is often used in lower end wines.
Secondary Fermentation. Secondary fermenation is coupled with the aging process. The yeast continues to ferment slowly and the length of time this process will be allowed to continue depends on the goals of the winemaker. For example, a fine wine may spend a great deal of time in oak barrels while a cheaper variety may spend a few months in stainless steel drums.
Blending. Winemakers often blend different batches of wine together to produce a desired taste. The may choose to blend to achieve a consistent taste for a certain vintage or to improve upon perceived deficiencies in a certain batch of wine. For examples, the winemaker could be hoping to increase or decrease tannin levels in a particular batch of wine.
Bottling. The final product is put into bottles and sulfites are often added to end the fermentation process and preserve the wine. The wine is then sealed with a cork.

The process on how to make wine can seem complicated. Thankfully, wine making kits are available to help simplify the process for those who want to make wine at home.

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