Volatile acidity (commonly abbreviated as “VA”) is the concentration of accumulated volatile acids, or those acids that can be separated through distillation. In wine, acetic acid is the primary volatile acid. Acetic acid is also the primary acid associated with vinegar. This is why high VA is associated with the detection and potential perception of […]
Wine Flaws
Did grape rot affect your wine vintage?
DG Winemaking Can Help! For many winegrowing regions, the vintage harvest season can leave winemakers in a state of distress or frustration. When the presence and proliferation of rot creeps into the vineyard during harvest season, there are a number of wine processing decisions that can influence the future of the wine’s quality. Most grape […]
The Free SO2 Bottling Dilemma
As bottling season is in full swing, I can see that many winemakers continue to struggle with free sulfur dioxide concentrations in their wines. That’s why, for the month of April, I’ve released a new Production Guide on handling free sulfur dioxide adjustments prior to bottling. This document supplements the Pre-Bottling Prep Checklists (Red, White, […]
3 Hot Winemaking Topics! An Update
Hello everyone! This month I’m checking in via an alternative media: a video! Some of you may recall I tried to do this in 2020, but obvious circumstances quickly changed my direction for the remainder of the year. So now I’m back! With a short new video talking about some changes coming for 2021, new […]
Four Virtual Winemaking Lessons You’ll Want Before Harvest!
For many of us, harvest is at the edge of beginning. As I am a firm believer in preparing for a successful harvest, I want to review a few tools available through dgwinemaking.com as à la carte purchases. Details for purchasing these lessons is at the bottom of this post. Creative Wine Styles for Hybrid […]
2020 Quarter One Winemaking Updates
Authors Note: This blog post and vlog were created prior to the U.S. outbreak of COVID-19. The material covered here is based on observations, projects, and interactions with wineries prior to the various state orders to address the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. For more information pertaining strictly to COVID-19, please see past blog posts. Hello! Welcome […]
