| What is wine? | | | | by not letting the skins stay in contact with the |
| Wine has been made for centuries from just a | | | | juice. Champagne is one of the most famous |
| two simple ingredients: yeast and grape juice. | | | | examples. |
| Actually, just about any fruit juice can be used, | | | | If the skins are left in the wine for only a short |
| but by far the majority of all wine is made from | | | | amount of time, a rose (or blush) will be made. If |
| the juice of the grape. | | | | they are left for an extended amount of time, a |
| How is wine made? | | | | dark red wine will be the result. |
| Yeast is the magical ingredient that turns grape | | | | What gives each wine its taste? |
| juice into wine. Interestingly enough, there is | | | | Even though there are very few ingredients, |
| actually wild yeast spores in the air and all that is | | | | there are many things which influence the taste |
| really needed to make wine is an open container | | | | of wine. First of all, there are many varieties of |
| of grape juice and time. The result however, | | | | grapes. Each grape variety will produce different |
| would probably not be the most palatable of | | | | flavors, aromas, and even textures. |
| beverages. | | | | In addition, the soil and climate where the grapes |
| There are numerous strains of yeasts and the | | | | are grown drastically affect these variables. |
| types used to make wine have been cultured just | | | | Not only that, but the wine maker can control |
| for this purpose. Well anyway, yeast is a living | | | | various things by the technique, temperature and |
| organism that feeds off of sugars in the grape | | | | yeast used during fermentation. Other variables |
| juice in a process called fermentation. | | | | such as fermenting or storing in oak barrels will |
| During fermentation, yeast spores will reproduce | | | | also affect the taste. |
| exponentially until all of the fermentable sugars | | | | Never fear, with all of these factors considered |
| have been consumed. During this fermentation | | | | even the most avid wine drinker would ever be |
| process, the sugars are converted into alcohol and | | | | able to experience all of the different varieties of |
| carbon dioxide. | | | | wine on the market today. Let the treasure |
| The yeast will also impart a taste to the finished | | | | hunting begin! |
| wine depending on various factors such as the | | | | What is tannin? |
| strain of yeast used, the temperature during | | | | Tannin is a substance in wine that causes a firm, |
| fermentation and other factors. | | | | mouth-drying feeling in your mouth. It is extracted |
| Once all of the fermentable sugars have been | | | | from the skins, seeds and stems of the grapes |
| consumed, the yeast will fall to the bottom of the | | | | so red wines will contain more tannin than whites. |
| container. The wine is removed from the | | | | White wines will get a degree of tannin when oak |
| container, leaving the yeast, and is trasferred to | | | | barrels are used for fermentation or aging. Eat |
| another container to mature while waiting to be | | | | just the skins of grapes or drink strongly brewed, |
| bottled. | | | | unsweetened tea for a good idea of what tannin |
| Of course, this whole process has been | | | | feels like in your mouth. |
| extremely simplified for a general understanding. | | | | What are sulfites? |
| How does wine get its color? | | | | By law, almost all wine made in the United States |
| You probably know that there are green grapes | | | | will have "Contains Sulfites" on the label. This is |
| and black grapes and different grapes are used to | | | | because about very small percentage of asthma |
| make different wines. | | | | sufferers can be extremely sensitive to sulfites. |
| What you might not know is that almost all grape | | | | Sulfites or sulfur dioxide is a compound occurring |
| juice (even from the black grapes) is basically | | | | naturally during the fermentation process. |
| colorless to golden in color. | | | | Sometimes, though a wine maker will add a little |
| The way a wine gets its color is by letting the | | | | more because of its antibacterial and preservative |
| skins soak in the juice during fermentation. You | | | | qualities. White wines have more sulfites than red |
| can actually make white wine from black grapes | | | | wines because they need more protection. |