Gary Farrell Winery winemaker Susan Reed discusses the viticulture of the Russian River Valley and winemaking practices Gary Farrell Winery uses to produce acclaimed wines.

Have you ever been in a home with a massive iron wine rack that didn’t quite fit the decor? How about an iron wine rack that is poorly designed but fits in beautifully with the decor? Iron wine racks come in literally thousands of styles and the better ones can be quite functional while still maintaining the room’s “feng-shui”. Iron wine racks are usually black classic wrought iron that hold from a few bottles of wine to many bottles. Some come with places for the glasses and assorted wine accessories. This makes it easy as with this type of iron wine rack, you know where everything is. Have you ever been frustrated at not being able to find your corkscrew or the wine charms that mark specific glasses? This is no longer a problem should you get the correct wine rack.

Iron wine racks can be short and wide or tall and thin. The short ones can be stacked on top of each other, creating a little wine corner that can be built onto like a Lego set. There are lots of options with such wine racks. They can have individual bottle containers or various shaped compartments to hold multiple bottles. This version may be perfect for the person who collects different wines as they give you lots of space for different types of wine.

The tall and thin iron wine racks are frequently called wine jails because they have individual cells and usually a cage door on the front. Find the right spot for one of these long, thin iron wine racks and it can make a lot of difference in a room’s style. Although the wine jails are not designed to be stacked, they can be added onto against a single wall if you have enough space. They can hold 40 or 50 bottles of your favorite wine each. Being as compartmentalized as they are lends them well to an inventory system. When a cell is empty, providing you store them with a sequence, you will know right away which one you need to purchase to keep the rack full.

Types of Wine Racks

There are many types of wine racks available. One of the most sought after types of racks are the designer wine racks. They come in wood, wrought iron, plastic, and concrete. They look sharp and hold your collection securely. There are over 20 different designer racks on display at http://www.wineenthusiast.com. They come in all shapes and sizes and are priced quite reasonably. On the site, they have categorized the racks as to price, bottle count, height, width and depth.

Decorative wine racks are supposed to complete a room. They lend themselves to being a focal point in some rooms. They also come in a myriad of shapes, sizes and bottle count. At http://www.wineenthusiast.com, they have over 60 very sharp looking wine racks. Price ranges from 19.95 to almost 1,000 dollars so there is something for every budget. The most expensive model, the Bamboo Bar Cart is an example of functionality. It has wheels and space for everything you need to serve wine or other drinks. It has compartments for wine glasses and wine bottles. It has a butcher block parquet top for drink preparation, along with shelves and drawers for all your supplies. This is a quality unit made from bamboo and some stainless steel for things like towel dispensers and handles.

Functionality of wine racks isn’t limited to just bottles and wine accessories. Some wine racks also double as furniture. While not cheap, these units combine style, functionality and multiple uses. They range up from 200 dollars to almost 8,000 dollars.

VintageView wine racks are quite distinctive and are generally a showplace for your most prized wine bottles. They display the bottles with a minimum of coverage but a sturdy support system. This model is perfect for the serious wine collector who wants their guests to go ooh and ahhh. These are really quite reasonable starting at 10 bucks for a one bottle display unit to 80 dollars for a 30 bottle unit. They usually have a distinct support system for the bottles such as just holding the bottles by the neck or the base, displaying the bottle very prominently.

These are just a few of the models available. There are many more types and sizes and price ranges for wine racks at http://www.wineenthusiast.com. With all the choices available, you have a myriad of possibilities and styles. From oak cabinets to wrought iron wine racks to new age materials, you can make a room very stylish just with the addition of one of these beauties.

Winemaker Joey Tensley describes oxidative and reductive styles of winemaking. The role of oxygen via micro-oxygenation in wines is discussed as well as the use of sulphur in the vineyard. At the end, Joey talks about whether or not micro-oxygenation in the winery might affect the ageability of red wines. Flimed at www.flickingerwines.com. Tensley is the winemaker at www.tensleywines.com. www.askawinemaker.com is a production of Candid Wines. For updates on new videos, subscribe to the Askawinemaker blog and follow us on Twitter @candidwines.

Although the four main flavors – sweet, salty, sour, and bitter are all your tongue is really capable of tasting, the long lasting impression that wine leaves in your mouth is far more complex. When you drink or taste wine, your taste buds and your sense of smell are involved, adding to the way you interpret wine overall. The flavors, aromas, and sensations that wine is comprised of provide the interaction that you taste when you sample wine.

Sweetness is something that wines are well known for. With most types of wine, grapes are responsible for the sweet taste. Grapes contain a lot of sugar, which breaks the yeast down into alcohol. The grapes and yeast that were used to produce the wine will leave behind various sugars, which your tongue will be able to quickly detect. Once your tongue detects these various sugars, the stimulation of sweetness from the wine will be ever so present in your mouth.

Alcohol is also present in wine, although your tongue doesn’t really know how to decipher the taste of alcohol. Even though the tongue doesn’t really taste alcohol, the alcohol is present in the mouth. The alcohol found in wine will dilate blood vessels and therefore intensify all of the other flavors found in the wine. After you have samples a few types of wine, the alcohol level can easily have an effect on your taste buds, making it hard to distinguish other drinks that you may have.

Another flavor is acidity, which will effect the sugars. With the proper balance of acidity, the overall flavor of wine can be very overwhelming. Once you taste wine that contains it, the flavor of the acidity will be well known to your tongue. Although acidity is great with wine, too much of it will leave a very sharp taste. With the right levels, acidity will bring the flavors of the grape and fruits alive in your mouth – providing you with the perfect taste.

Yet another effect of flavor are tannins, which are the proteins found in the skins of grapes and other fruits. If a wine has the right amount of tannins, it will give your tongue a great feel, and bring in the sensations of the other flavors. Once a wine starts to age, the tannins will begin to breakdown in the bottle, giving you a softer feel to the taste. Tannins are essential for the taste of wine – providing the wine has been properly aged.

The last flavor associated with wine is oak. Although oak isn’t put into the wine during the manufacturing process, it is actually transferred during the aging process, as most wines will spend quite a bit of time in oak barrels. Depending on how long the wine is left in the oak barrel or cask, the ability to extract the flavor will vary. Most often times, wine will be aged just enough to where the oak taste is visibly there – and adds the perfect sentiment to the taste.

Although there are other flavors involved with the taste of wine, they aren’t as present as those listed above. The above flavors are the most present in wine, and also the flavors that you need to get more familiar with. Before you try to taste wine or distinguish flavors, you should always learn as much you can about the components responsible for the flavors. This way – you will know more about what you are tasting and you’ll truly be able to appreciate wine.

Although position is important when storing wine, temperature is the most important storing factor overall. Even though you may not have the ideal conditions for storage, you should always have the optimal level of temperature. The temperature when storing your wine is very important, as it affects the overall quality, flavor, and longevity of the wine. Most wines need to be stored for long periods of time, which is why the temperature is so very important.

The temperature for storing wine should always be between 50 and 65 degrees F. When stored in this range, the wine will develop quite nicely. In the days before refrigeration, wine was stored in underground cellars and caves. When refrigeration came along, it quickly became the easiest and most preferred way to store wine, as it allowed you to maintain the same desired temperature.

In this day and age, science plays a major role with wine making. Science has proved over the years that aging is actually a chain of chemical reactions that occur over time. Depending on the temperature, the chemical reactions can either be good or bad. Chemical reactions all have unique energy factors that need to be met for each individual reaction to happen. If the temperature isn’t right, the chemical reactions in the wine won’t occur.

If wine is stored in direct sunlight or in a hot area, the increase in temperature can result in a chemical reaction that can damage both the flavor and the quality of the wine. Wine that has been damaged from heat will normally turn brown due to the oxidation. When this happens, the flavor and quality of the wine won’t be any good. Wine that is damaged from heat loses all of it’s flavor and color, making it virtually impossible to drink – or sell.

Colder temperatures on the other hand may slow the aging process, although it can also prevent the wine from getting the chemical reactions it needs as well. Lower temperatures may not affect the quality or taste of the wine, although it isn’t recommended. All bottles of wine, until they have been opened, should be stored in a location with a temperature above 50 degrees F. This way, the wine will be in the proper temperature for storage and able to get the chemical reactions it needs.

You should keep any open bottles in your refrigerator, as the average temperature is normally 41 degrees F. You shouldn’t keep bottles that you haven’t opened in the fridge, as the temperature is much too cold. If you follow the above tips when storing your wine, you’ll find the taste to be spectacular. Storing wine will always raise the value and add to the taste – providing you store it the right way.

When looking at home wine making, there are many pros and cons to using a home wine making kit. This article will discuss both in an attempt to highlight those pros and cons.

Some of the pros to using a home wine making kit are basic in that the home wine making kit provides instructions for the inexperienced wine maker. They are very often easy to use and come with all the necessary chemicals needed to make a fortified wine. They are also quite inexpensive. This helps the wine grower in producing many wines in a short period if he or she wishes to sell the wine when done fermenting and bottling.

The home wine making kit also provides a system for producing a quality product that provides for all the needs of the wine maker.  The actual juice for the kit comes in concentrated form, which you then would reconstitute, and the winemaking follows a very simple process outlined in the detailed instructions included with each kit. The wine is usually bottled after six to ten weeks. This provides a quick turnaround time for the wine maker.

Some of the drawbacks of using a wine kit are numerous. The main complaint or con to making wine from a kit is that the kit wine tends to lack some of the depth and intensity of wines made from fresh or frozen fruit, since the juice usually comes from concentrate. Another drawback is that often times certain things will get mixed into the batch that shouldn’t be there out of carelessness or afterthought. Some juices often get mixed in that make the wine too tart or too bland.

Some of the natural juices often can evaporate. Also you have to be careful that you time your wine correctly. A lot of patience is involved in making sure the proper steps are followed and maintained. Also, one must really take the time to watch the mixture in case of problems so the recipe comes out the way it should.

All in all, the pros and cons to wine making with a kit shore up on the positive side as long as you follow the specific directions.

For wine enthusiasts, part of the fun of enjoying wine is displaying the bottles. Visit the home of any wine connoisseur and you’ll likely find a variety of wine bottles showcased in some way or another. One such popular way to display different wines is with the use of a hanging wine rack.

A hanging wine rack, while being utilitarian in its uses, frequently boasts the added benefit of being visually appealing. Those with an eye for decorating will find a hanging wine rack to be both a useful piece and a lovely home accessory.

The popularity of the hanging wine rack stems largely from its universal appeal; it is made from a variety of materials – everything from wood to wrought iron. While some will have space only for wine bottles, others offer you the option of also hanging your stemware alongside your wine. Clearly, the hanging wine rack also offers consumers a great space advantage as it stays well out of the way and allows you to create a lovely and functional display without taking over the room. For those who live in smaller spaces, this can be enormously appealing. Further, the installation of a hanging wine rack can be achieved quickly and easily with simple directions and a couple of common household tools.

Finding a hanging wine rack that appeals to you can be as simple as an online search. There are a great many websites that offer household accessories of this nature at a very affordable price. If shipping prices are of concern to you, then you can just as easily check out a couple of local retail stores. Depending on your needs, you will more than likely find the perfect hanging wine rack right down the street and at a price that will be well worth the functionality and visual appeal of this piece.

No matter which hanging wine rack you choose, you will surely enjoy many compliments to come as friends and visitors admire your creativity and style.

Image taken on 2007-05-05 15:49:29 by avlxyz.

The interest in Rosé wine has become markedly increased. At one time this type of wine tended to be somewhat looked down upon and was frequently referred to as a ‘summer’ wine due to the fact that it was much lighter than a white wine or red wine.

Today there are many different styles of Rosé wine available on the commercial market and many home based winemakers are experimenting with the different ways to produce Rosé wine. Dry Rosé wines, in particular, have become increasingly popular.

This type of wine may be referred to quite commonly as Rosé; however, it is also referred to a blush wine. Generally, this rather pinkish wine is referred to as Rosé in Europe, where it tends to be drier, while in the United States it is referred to as a blush wine. Most American blush wines tend to be far sweeter than their European counterparts.

If you are looking for a way to expand the types of wine that you produce there are several reasons to consider including a good Rosé as part of your wine repertoire. First, while this type of wine has certainly earned a reputation as a sweet wine that does not necessarily mean that you must produce a very sweet Rosé. A slightly off dry or very dry Rosé wine can still be quite pleasant and fruity. In fact, in some cases, you can produce a Rosé wine that is just as good in terms of quality as a red wine, if not better, in fact.

When deciding to venture into making Rosé wine it is important to keep in mind that there are really three different ways in which to make Rosé wine. The first method is known as “blanc de noir”. This means that a white wine is produced from red grapes. Another method, referred to as saignée, separates juice from red wine. The final method is blending red wine and white wine.

When skin contact is used to create Rosé wine you will need to determine how long you wish to leave the skins of the grapes in contact with the juice because this will determine the color of the wine. In most cases, the time period is quite short; generally between two and three days. After this point the grapes are pressed and you can discard the skins. Keep in mind that the longer you leave the skins in contact with the juice, the deeper the color of the final wine will be. The exact type of grapes that are used with this method can also contribute to the color of the wine. For example, if you use a very deep colored grape then naturally the resulting wine is going to have a deeper pink color.

The saignée method, also referred to as bleeding, is often chosen when you want to have more color and tannin in a red wine while also removing the juice. The juice must be removed very early. This process is referred to as bleeding the vats. You can then ferment the juice separately and produce a Rosé wine that is really more of a by-product of your red wine. Your separate red wine will then be far more intense because the volume of the juice has been reduced.

Blending is a very simple process that involves mixing red wine and red wine in order to add color to the red wine. Most wine makers have moved away from this method; however. Most people prefer to use one of the first two methods mentioned above. Primarily the only region in the world where blending is still used to produce a blush wine is Champagne, France.

When you begin making your first blush or Rosé wine you may find that you need to experiment some in order to find what you like best. If you have tried blush wines previously you may already have an idea of whether you prefer a dry wine or a sweet wine. Experimenting with different methods as well as different types of grapes; however, will aid you in finding out which method you prefer and which one produces the most agreeable blush wines.

Have you just bought a dozen expensive European reds, but have no suitable wine rack to store them? Are you a budding wine enthusiast and wondering how to choose the right wine rack for your growing wine collection?

Well-designed wine racks that keep wines from being moved too much could be the answer to your wine storage problems. By keeping bottles in a horizontal position, good wine racks allow the wine to keep the cork moist so that it doesn’t dry out and allow air into the bottle.

It was the Romans who developed better wine storage methods, keeping wine in barrels and bottles. But how do you solve the modern-day problem of finding space and the right wine rack for your wine collection?

Tips on how to choose the right wine rack for your wine collection

1. It is important to ask how many bottles you’re going to store and when you’re going to drink them.

- If you have a dozen bottles, ready for drinking within a month or two, then all you may need is a wine rack that sits on the floor in a closet somewhere on the north side of the house.

- If you are a serious collector and want to store your wines for more than a year to maybe ten years, then you may need modular wine racks that hold hundreds of bottles of wine. A cellar or converted cellar measuring less than 3 meters square will easily hold 100 dozen bottle bottles or wine.

2. The second most important question is where are you going to put your wine racks? The best place for wine storage is a cellar or cellar-like place that is dim, cool, and stable in temperature and movement, slightly humid and with few odors. The worst place would be the top of the fridge where you get vibration, constantly changing temperature, heat from the kitchen and constant exposure to light.

In most modern homes the cellar-like place can be a large closet, a walk-in wine pantry, space under a stairway, a specially constructed and insulated room with wine racks and wine cellar cooling systems, or even a converted corner of the garage.

3. What material do you want for your wine rack?

- If you want a modern look, you may opt for a stainless steel wine rack.

- If you want the traditional look of wood, then you can choose from inexpensive pine to more expensive oak, walnut, cherry, western red cedar or mahogany.

- If you want novel styles and shapes then you may opt for wrought iron which can be moulded into various shapes and powder-coated in various colors to match your home décor.

4. What style do you want?

- Do you have enough space for a freestanding wine rack?
- Do you want your wine racks incorporated into fitted cupboards?
- Do you want them hanging or mounted to the wall if space is limited?
- Or do you want stackable wine racks that allow you to increase your storage space when you need it?

5. Is your wine rack sturdy, stable and strong enough to bear the weight of your wine bottles? Is the wine rack made of durable and attractive material such as Philippine mahogany? Does the wine rack have full 13.5 inch-deep shelves for full bottle depth and added stability? Does the manufacturer provide at least one year warranty?

6. Other important questions to ask would be:

- Do you have enough space not only to store your wine bottles on their side but to be able to rotate them occasionally to preserve their flavour?

- Does your wine rack have slightly wider openings allowing storage for most Champagne and Burgundy style bottles, as well as standard size 750 ml bottles?

- Does it have angled front slats to avoid damage to labels and your hands?

- If you are buying a wine rack kit, are they pre-drilled and screw together using simple tools for easy assembly?

7. And last but not least what is your budget? Most wine rack stores – whether online or brick and mortar- stock a range of wine racks to suit all budget and tastes and some even include free shipping.

For less than $30, you can get a stackable metal wine rack with simple lines that hold up to 4 bottles. Or for less than $200, you could get a wooden wine rack in handsome mahogany, 6 columns wide and 9 rows high that will hold 60 bottles of your favorite wines. Take your pick.

Building a wine cellar can create the ideal environment to store your wines. Temperature is always a major consideration in wine storage and the ideal wine storage temperature is between 55ºF and 58ºF (13ºC–15ºC), although any temperature between 40º–65ºF (5º–18ºC) will suffice as long as it doesn’t fluctuate too much. Ideally, the humidity should be around 70%. If you can’t achieve these temperatures in your passive wine cellar then you may require a wine cellar cooling unit.

A standard home refrigerator makes a poor wine cooling solution for several reasons. It is designed specifically to store and look after food products, not to store wines. An atmosphere that works well for meat and vegetables is far too cold and dry for your expensive wine. The preferred temperature for home refrigeration is somewhere between 35ºF and 38ºF (1.7 to 3.3ºC)

Home – or even commercial – refrigeration equipment is built to cool food quickly to prevent it spoiling. This is achieved by blasting cold air until the desired temperature is reached. Then a cycle kicks in whereby once the set temperature is reached, the refrigerator shuts off. When the temperature rises to a pre-determined point, cold air is again blasted. This continuous fluctuating temperature cycle isn’t good for your wines.

Standard refrigeration equipment is designed not only to cool but also to remove moisture. Wine gives off neither heat nor moisture so you end up with an environment that’s way too dry for wine. This will cause wine corks to shrink, which will allow air to get in. Once the air is in contact with your wine the irreversible process of oxidation begins and your wine is ruined!

Vibration can also be an issue with a home refrigerator. Wine requires a calm vibration-free environment in which to develop so any vibration will eventually destroy a fine wine.

Similarly, home air conditioning provides a poor environment for aging your wines, as it removes the humidity from the air which can lead to corks drying out. Additionally, if air conditioning is only turned on at certain times during the day then the wine will become subject to wide temperature fluctuations, which will inevitably cause irreparable damage to your wine.

To properly cool and humidify a cellar you will need a cooling system designed specifically for cooling a wine cellar.

Wine cellar cooling units can be set at any temperature within the optimum range for successfully aging wines and they cool the air slowly and gently. They are designed to maintain humidity rather than dehydrating the cellar although sometimes additional humidification may be required in extremely dry climates. This type of wine cellar cooling unit is usually installed approximately 18 inches from the top of the room in order to achieve maximum cooling. The unit will also require an unobstructed airflow and adequate ventilation to dissipate the heat generated by the unit.

It is also possible to install a split air system into a wine cellar although these units can be very expensive with prices running into many thousands of dollars.

A split air system is installed outside the wine cellar and the supply and return air is ducted to and from the wine cellar. This wine cellar refrigeration system works like a central air-conditioning system and is similarly quiet. This system would usually include electronic controls and a digital display. There are many options available with split system cooling including humidifiers, dehumidifiers and alarm units. With the addition of the options, a split air system will provide you with total control of your wine cellar refrigeration, albeit at a large cost.

If you find that your wine cellar requires a cooling unit it is worthwhile shopping around and comparing brands. There are few bargains, however, you should be able to save money with a little research.

Experienced vintners will often stress the importance of sanitizing equipment and work areas for wine production in making their wines and vintages. There is so much that the new vintner might be concerned about whether they have done a good enough job before starting their winemaking process. One must keep in mind that sterilization is not a necessary requirement, that is where every micro-organism is killed and nothing can live on the surfaces of our equipment and work areas.

Indeed, sterilization is impossible under normal circumstances and definitely undesirable when producing wine. Sanitization on the other hand is the process of making our equipment unfavorable to bacteria growth. Bacteria, as a rule, can be very harmful. The acid bacteria of the damaging kind will turn wine into vinegar, and that’s what we as wine growers don’t want.

In essence there are numerous kinds of products available to winemakers for sanitation purposes, one really needs to just keep things very simple and use only one product for sanitation. In doing so, becoming distracted about what products that are being used or use one when you really actually meant to use another can be tricky. Potassium metabisulfite is used to stabilize and protect wines as an additive. It can also be used to make a sanitizing solution with water. It works, so why purchase other ingredients to do exactly what potassium metabisulfite accomplishes.

To make things easy and fast for home winemaking, one must make up a complete solution in a one gallon jug that has a tight fitting top lid. The accepted ratio is 3 tablespoons of potassium metabisulfite to one gallon of water. You can usually make the solution somewhat stronger. If you use five tablespoons, this will do, because the solution gradually can lose some of it’s strength over time, especially when stored above 65 degrees.

One can also use a small spray bottle that you can fill with the solution of water and potassium metabisulfite. For sanitizing the surfaces of airlocks, bungs and the plastic spoons, you can simply spray those surfaces with the solution using the spray bottle. Rinse with water, and you are done. The spray bottle is also helpful in sanitizing work areas such as counter tops and work areas. Using these three tips will help you sanitize your equipment and work area fast and efficiently, moreso than if you didn’t have them.

Image taken on 2007-05-05 15:49:39 by avlxyz.

A home’s décor ultimately reflects the style of its occupants. Those who engage in hobbies and collecting that is near and dear to their heart will frequently display corresponding pieces in an attractive display in their home. In addition to infusing the home with the occupant’s unique personality, such a display creates an instant conversation piece that will engage visitors and give them a feel for the home’s overall style. For wine connoisseurs, the display of a variety of wines that they particularly enjoy can be both functional and decorative. To this end, a beautiful wine rack design can do the most to display your wine with visual impact.

When choosing a wine rack design, begin initially by determining the specific material that would most complement your home. Wine racks are made from everything from solid wood and metal to wrought iron and come in a variety of styles – from contemporary to antique. A wine rack design should fit with your home’s overall style, allowing it to merge seamlessly with the other elements in your home.

Functionality should also be a consideration when choosing a wine rack design. If you are content to have a wine rack that simply stores and displays a couple of good wine bottles then you should look for simple designs; these should also be relatively inexpensive. However, if you would also like to display stemware, barware, or additional items, then seek out a more comprehensive wine rack design. While these will undoubedtly be higher priced, it could be well worth the expense if the wine rack design will offer you a greater level of efficiency.

Your space restrictions should also be considered when it comes to a wine rack design. While some standing wine racks can fit within a corner of your home or against a wall, there are others that hang from the ceiling, maximizing space for those with a smaller living environment.

Visit home furniture stores and large retail stores that offer a display of home goods. You will easily find a beautiful wine rack design that works for your particular purposes. The Internet also offers a comprehensive listing of websites that sell wine racks online. You can shop from the comfort of your own home and have the wine rack design shipped right to your door.

A stunning wine rack design is a relatively inexpensive way to complete the look of your home and create a sophisticated display that reflects your personality.

Image taken on 2010-03-05 20:56:21 by Stuck in Customs.

Among the many types of wine available, red wine is among the best. There are many types of red wine available, although most are made using the same methods. This very exhilarating type of wine is made from black grapes, drawing their color from the skins of the grapes.

During the beginning stages of making red wine, the grapes that have been picked are put into a crusher. Here, the crusher will gently break the skins of the grapes. Depending on what type of wine is being made and the tannin that’s required, the stalks will either be used or discarded at this point. Next, the grapes are put into a fermentation vat with the skins. This can be a long process, taking several weeks to complete. If a higher temperature is used, more tannin and color will be extracted from the grapes.

When making soft wines, the whole grapes are fermented using sealed vats. The carbon dioxide that becomes trapped in the sealed vats ferment the grapes under pressure, which is normally a quick process, taking only a few days. Keep in mind, the color and tannin content of the wine is based on how long the fermenting process takes. If the fermenting process takes a long time, the wine will generally hold more flavor and color.

The remaining bulk of the grapes will go through a press, being crushed to create a tannic wine. Sometimes, this tannic wine is added with a free run wine in order to add a bit more structure to the wine blend. Both the press and vat wine are then mixed and transferred to either tanks or barrels for a second fermentation. The second fermentation will take the longest, although it brings out the quality and taste from the wine.

All types of fine red wine will spend a minimum of a year in the barrels. Some types of red wine will spend a lot more time in the barrels, possibly several years. Red wine is also fine tuned with egg whites, which will suspend the yeast and other solids found in the wine downwards, before the wine is racked, filtered, and eventually bottled. Once the wine has been bottled, it is then shipped off and sold. Some wine however, will be stored for a period of time in the bottle before it is offered for sale.

The time a wine spends in the bottle is very important, although not every wine needs to spend a lot of time in the bottle. The more complex and more expensive types of red wine will benefit the most from aging in the bottle, to preserve flavor and color. The simple types of red wine however, don’t need to spend much time at all in the bottle.