Wine Making

The production of wines includes two main steps. The first is called viticulture which is the process of growing the grapes. The second is called vinification which is the process of transforming the grapes into wine. A description of the process of producing wine must begin with the rootstock and vine. Almost all wine consumed is made from a species of grape vine known as the vitus vinifera, or wine vine. All wine consumed is actually rain recovered from the ground by the vine that bears the grapes. For the first few years of its life a young vine is creating a root system and building a strong woody stalk. During the first few years it bears no more than a few grapes. A vine that is annually cut back to a small number of buds will grow higher quality grapes. The pruning is done each year during mid-winter because at this time the plant is dormant and will not lose much sap from its wounds. As a vine ages, its main roots burrow deeper into the ground. While the vine is young and its roots are near the surface they are susceptible to damage from flooding and droughts. The prime age of a vine is when it is between 12 and 40 years old. Because of this a young vine is not as valuable as a much more mature vine. The French often use the term vieilles vignes, which means old vines, so that the consumer will know that the wine was made from some of the most mature vines in the vineyards. Some California labels also have the term "old vine." The highest quality soils drain deeply and quickly which draws the roots down to deeper depths to discover a stable water supply. Also, the vine is continuously growing new feeder roots close to the surface. Each vine has several basic parts. The visible part of the vine is called the vitus vinifera. The scion produces the shoots. During the winter the shoots will mature and transform into canes. Each cane will have about a dozen buds and each of these will form a shoot. Flowers will grow on shoots formed in the springtime of the year. These flowers will later become fruit. A spur is a cane that has been pruned very short. It has only a few buds. By the close of the following year, the spurs and canes are old wood and are frequently removed at pruning with replacement spurs or canes having been allowed to form.

Back to articles