My Love For Wine and Other Tastes of Pleasure

If a brewer makes beer, what is the name of a person that makes wine? Many people would say brewer, but this is incorrect. It also points to the fact that the titles of many positions in the wine industry are simply unknown. In this article, we look to shed some light on the subject.

Let’s start with the first question we’ve posed. Specifically, what is a person that makes wine called? Well, it is really a broad question because there is more than one position in the wine making process. While there are actually many, two are more important than others. Let’s take a closer look.

You need grapes to make wine. It doesn’t get much more obvious than that. Every vineyard has a person in charge of the vines and grape production. This person is known as a “viticulturist”. They are experts in all aspects of the grape production including timing, nutrient and disease issues. The viticulturist handles grape production for wine, but also plays a role in any grape oriented industry. For instance, grapes produced from grape juice are monitored by a viticulturist. Regardless, this must mean the viticulturist is the person we can designate as the wine maker, right? Not exactly.

Another person takes over the wine production process once that grapes are picked. This person is known as an “oenologist”. That is a lot to run over the tongue, so many people just call the oenologist a vintner or winemaker. I prefer vintner, but you can choose your own phrase. Regardless, this individual takes over the control of the grapes once they are picked. He is in charge of everything from the cleaning to formation to bottling process and every step in between. Put another way, the buck stops with the vintner.

An obvious question may have come to mind while reading the above. Is it common to have the viticulturist also be the vintner? It occurs from time to time, but not very often. The two disciplines are very different. One is very agriculturally oriented while the other is very much a classic brewing position. It is rare for one person to be skilled enough in both areas to pull off handling both positions.

There is one other position that is critical in the wine industry – the oenophile. That would be you and me. We are people that love to drink wine. The name, however, sounds like something illegal, so most people just stick to wine drinker!

I’m a wine maker!

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Wine makin’ / not only funny…

Part 1- Visit with Manfred Krankl, wine maker at SINE QUA NON (SQN) on THE SOURCE from www.TheWineryChannel.tv
Video Rating: 4 / 5

For centuries now, vintners and great wine makers have been tirelessly fermenting grapes, other fruits and flowers to produce the wine that is served at feasts, parties and dinner tables.

There are thousands of varieties or types of wine to choose from. White, sparkling, red or rose wine are just some of the “colors” that you can choose from.

Wine making is a very lucrative venture because there is a worldwide market. France, Italy, Australia, Spain, Chile and the United States have their share of the worldwide market and are the leading countries which export and produce wine.

Meanwhile, South Africa, Argentina, Portugal and Germany aren’t far behind.

California is the state which boasts the most of wine producers in the US. Vineyards are mostly found in Sonoma Valley, Monterey, Paso Robles, Santa Ynez and Napa Valley.

Here are just some of the popular wine makers in the country:

1. Greenvale Vineyards & Winery

This vineyard is located in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. They produce red and white wines located from grapes which are locally grown.

Chardonnays and Cabernets are produced from the fertile soils of Greenvale Vineyards.

2. The Mount Pleasant Winery

Located north of St. Louis in Augusta, the Mount Pleasant Vineyards and Winery produces the best wine out of quality grapes.

With Chambourcin grapes, a Nouveau-like wine is aged and fermented. Chambourcin is a type of red grape grown mostly in states located on the East.

3. Domaine Drouhin

Located in the Red Hills of the Dundee in Oregon, this vineyard claims a sense of history since it is owned by the Drouhin family.

Their wine has received worldwide recognition due to class and quality. The Pinot Noir wines that they produce have the distinct flavors of berries and vanilla for an exquisite taste.

4. Savannah Chanelle Vineyards

Located in the mountains of Santa Cruz in California, the Savannah Chanelle vineyards produce Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir.

Pinot Noir is mostly produced in the vast vineyards of Savannah Chanelle and are on the top of the list when it comes to this type of wine.

5. Chappellet Winery

California, being the wine-producing state in the US, includes the Napa Valley region.

This is where the Chappellet Winery is located and they produce Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. This winery produces wines which undergo as little processing as possible.

6. Sanford Winery

This vineyard is located in Buellton, California in the Santa Ynez valley. They make Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

When deciding which wine to serve your family, consider the bottles produced by such popluar wine makers and you can’t go wrong.

The Wine Maker

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How do you know this has been a tough year from the grapes? Because the wine maker is looking down at his vineyard with a look of dismay.

A winemakers account of making wine in the Colorado Rockies.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Question by TP: How do wine makers accomplish the sweetness or dryness of wine?
Discuss the degree of sweetness or dryness of wine and describe how wine makers accomplish this?

Best answer:

Answer by Noah
There are two major variables – how much sugar is in the grapes before you start and how long you let it ferment.

The sugar content in grapes is measured in “brix” when grapes are ripening on the vine, they are constantly checked for brix content. When they reach the level the wine maker wants – they are picked. The longer they are on the vine, the more sugar they have all the way to to the point there they start to desiccate (dry) on the vines – then they have the most concentrated sugar. Wines made from those, sweetest grapes are called ice wines because there is often snow on them by the time they are picked.

Fermentation involved yeast turning sugars into alcohol. The longer you let the wine ferment, the dryer it becomes.

Give your answer to this question below!