Winemaking
Winemaking (a.k.a. vinification) includes all the successive steps between the arrival of the grapes and the barreling of the wine.
We employ a combination of old world techniques and modern enology to carefully craft our wine. An understanding of fermentation chemistry is important, but there are older beneficial techniques we follow that are more subjective.
Depending on what each harvest offers, we adopt a strategy that leverages the strengths of that particular vintage. So the myriad of decisions that are made in the winery are based upon maximizing the potential of the grapes as opposed to putting all fruit through a standard industrial process. It’s a more intimate way of vinification that yields authentic and characteristic wines.
Some techniques we find beneficial include:- Cold Soaking
- Use of small open top fermentors
- Use of native and cultured yeasts
- Manual punch downs
- High peak fermentation temperatures
- Gentle bladder pressing
- Gentle gravity flow wine transfer
- Malolactic fermentation in barrel
- Use of new and used French oak barrels
- Minimal racking
- Minimal blending
- Minimal intervention
Designed & Maintained by 4 the Grapes