beginner · Wine School
How Wine Is Made
From vine to bottle — the journey of the grape through harvest, crushing, fermentation and ageing.
The vintage begins at harvest, when grapes are picked at the peak of ripeness. White grapes are usually crushed and pressed quickly, while red grapes ferment with their skins, which give colour and tannin.
Fermentation is driven by yeast converting sugar into alcohol. The length and temperature of fermentation dramatically shape the final wine: cooler fermentations preserve aromatics, while warmer ones draw out richness and body.
After fermentation, most wines are aged — in stainless steel to keep them fresh and fruity, in oak barrels to add spice, toast, and texture. The wine is then clarified, blended if needed, and bottled.
Red vs white
The key difference is skin contact. Red wine ferments on the skins; most whites are pressed off them almost immediately.
Ageing matters
Oak can add complexity but shouldn't dominate. Fine wine is about balance between fruit, acidity, tannin and oak.