A winemaker’s desire to produce a deeply colored, concentrated red wine can be a strong driving force behind winemaking operational decisions. Processes like cold soak, extended maceration, or even the use of saignée become the norm when winemakers hear other winemakers employ these techniques to enhance red wine color. But sometimes our use of a […]
Cellar Tools
Are you taking adequate fermentation records?
Having adequate detail in an easy-to-navigate record keeping format allows winemakers to: quickly see past decisions, evaluate which treatments were effective for various wines, and assess general inventory needs on a regular basis. While the use of wine production software systems are often helpful, many winemakers strive to take good notes on the cellar floor. […]
3 Facts About YAN You Probably Forgot
As many winemakers have already jumped into harvest, I wanted to highlight just how important nutrient supplementation can be during primary fermentation! But, wait! Are you confused about what YAN is? Have no fear! You can jump over to my FREE primer on yeast available/assimilable nitrogen (YAN), Fermentation Nutrition: What to Know and Why to […]
Is Wine Analysis Important in Winemaking?
Maintaining good winemaking records is key to monitoring the quality of the wine. Many winemakers take good notes, recording processing steps as well as all ingredient and processing aid additions that go into the wine. However, maintaining adequate analytical records of wine is also important. As a consultant, I meet winemakers with a variety of […]
Set Winemaking Goals for 2022
Taking just 30 minutes to review the past harvest season can save time and resources prior to starting the next harvest. With that in mind, I strongly encourage everyone to do some post-harvest assessments. DGW members and clients can access a series of prompts through the Post-Harvest Preparation Checklist. If you don’t have access to […]
3 Tips for Better Protein (Heat) Stabilization
For many wines, avoiding a protein haze is a primary objective to obtain visual appeal. Yet, many winemakers struggle with protein stability from logistical and wine quality perspectives. This month’s post reviews three tips on enhancing wine quality with better logistical planning for protein stabilization. The best part: any winery of any size can accomplish […]
