Red wine is more than just a drink—it’s a tradition steeped in history, culture, and craftsmanship, from ancient Rome to modern vineyards. Ever wondered how red wine is made? It’s a fascinating process that combines skill, precision, and time-honoured techniques. In this article, we’ll break down the journey of red wine, from grape to glass, in 7 key steps, uncovering the artistry and care that go into every bottle.
1. Harvesting: Picking the Perfect Grapes
Red wine starts with black grapes, whose rich color comes from anthocyanin, a pigment in the skins. Timing the grape harvest is critical—too early, and the wine turns tart; too late, and it loses structure. Grapes are either handpicked, ensuring quality, or machine-harvested for speed.
Factors like climate, weather, and terroir (the unique combination of soil, climate, and landscape) influence grape ripeness, sugar levels, and overall wine quality. Varieties like bold Cabernet Sauvignon or fruity Pinot Noir define the wine’s character. The former offers bold structure and rich tannins content like what you find in Terres de Berne while the latter is lighter with more fruity flavor.
Terres de Berne Red wine
2. Crushing and De-Stemming: Preparing the Grapes
After harvest, grapes are crushed to release their juice and destemmed to remove the stems, which can add excess tannins. Gentle crushing techniques preserve the fruity aromas, while keeping the juice in contact with the skins extracts color and flavor.
3. Fermentation: Transforming Juice into Wine
Fermentation transforms grape sugars into alcohol using yeast. Winemakers can use commercial yeasts for consistency or natural yeasts for unique flavours. Temperature plays a big role: cooler fermentation enhances delicate flavours, while warmer temperatures bring out bold notes.
Punching Down vs. Pumping Over
During fermentation, winemakers either pump juice over the floating skins or gently punch them down to extract flavour and tannins. Pumping over produces bold, rich wines, while punching down creates more nuanced profiles.
Now, when they go for pumpovers, they're going for the gusto, pulling out tons of flavor from those grape skins, which leads to some bold, rich reds like our Berne Grand Cuvée. Punch downs are a bit more gentle, coaxing out flavors in a softer way, which usually results in more nuanced, subtle red wines.
4. Pressing: Extracting the Wine
Pressing separates the juice from the solids. Free-run juice, collected before pressing, is considered high quality, while pressed juice contains more tannins and phenolics, which can affect flavor and balance.
Bottle of Red wine : Château de Berne La Grande Cuvée
5. Aging: Adding Complexity
Red wines can age in barrels, tanks, or bottles, each imparting unique characteristics. Oak barrels add vanilla, spice, and smokiness, while concrete or clay softens acidity. Aging allows the wine to develop smoother, richer flavors over time.
Choosing the Right Barrel
American oak barrels bring bold vanilla and coconut notes, while French oak adds delicate spices. Smaller barrels infuse flavor more quickly, while larger ones allow slower, more subtle development.
Wooden barrels are the best as they add in some sweet vanilla vibes along with a dash of spice and a hint of smokiness. On the other hand, unlined concrete and clay tanks soften things up and dial down the acidity a notch, one example of such flavor you find in our bottle of The Velvet Devil Merlot.
6. Clarification: Refining the Wine
Clarification removes cloudiness and unwanted proteins using fining agents like egg whites or bentonite clay. Filtering ensures the wine stays clean and free from bacteria, preserving its quality.
7. Bottling and Sealing: The Final Step
To maintain quality, wine is bottled with minimal exposure to oxygen. Natural corks or screw caps are used depending on whether the wine is for aging or everyday drinking. Bottles are stored on their sides in cool, dark conditions to mature.
From Vineyard to Your Glass
The journey of red wine is a perfect blend of art and science. Every step—from selecting grapes to aging—shapes its flavor and character. So, the next time you sip on red wine, remember the craftsmanship and passion behind it.
Discover our range of red wines at Wine Caverns and experience the rich stories and flavors in every glass. Cheers!
