During the wine making process, malolactic conversion transforms sharp malic acids into softer lactic acids. What wines, and wine styles employ this "secondary fermentation"?Malolactic conversion, also referred to as secondary fermentation, uses bacteria to transform muscular malic acids (think green apple) into smoother tasting lactic acids (think milk). Many white wines undergo a partial malolactic conversion, and pretty much every red wine goes through this process. What does it mean to the style of the finished wines, and how do you manipulate the level of malolactic conversion? Crushpad Chief Winemaker, Michael Zitzlaff fills us in.
Kian Tavakoli, winemaker for Crushpad, explains when you do, and when you don't want to think about including whole clusters in your fermentation. For some varietals, in some years, it can enhance aromas, and other desirable characteristics in a wine. In other years the stems are simply too green to include any whole clusters... Doing so would give your wine green tannins that can make a wine harsh.
Wine making in Long Island.One of the important steps in wine making comes before the grapes are even picked. The winemakers job is to determine the correct time to pick the chardonnay, or viogneir grapes for optimal flavor. ClassicWines interviews the winemaker at Bedell Cellars in Long Island to find out the many determinations that a winemaker will make to bring you that wonderful glass of wine. http://www.ClassicWines.com
The balance between pH and acidity is a delicate one that you must pay close attention to as you are making wine. The ripeness of the fruit and type of grape varietal will dictate how you have to work with that fruit to produce a wine that meets your desired style goals.
Depending on the style of wine you want to make, and the varietal of grape you are working with, you have a few choices when it comes to fermenation vessels. And when you're working with small batch winemaking, it is critical to make the right choice. For white wines it's important that you ferment in the type of vessel that will help you achieve the style you want. For reds, it's a little more straight forward. Crushpad winemaker Chris Nelson explains it all.
The amount of alcohol in a wine is a key factor to how you experience that wine. Is there too much? too little? How can a wine with lower alcohol taste like it is strong or "hot"?These are all questions answered by Crushpad winemaker, Kian Tavakoli in this Winemaker's Minute.
An absolute how to of wine making. From preparing the barrels to sipping the wine. Produced by John Gaspar. Class project for Multimedia Class of Ramapo College MSET program. Fall 2007.
Whether you are making your own wine, or just trying to find the right bottle at a local shop, you need to be able to express to others the style of wine you are looking for. You can't get what you want if you don't know how to ask for it. Crushpad Chief winemaker Michael Zitzlaff talks with us about how to define a style of of wine.
