This week’s subject for the WordPress Photo Challenge is “Change.” This got me to thinking of the changes that I see every year in the process of making wine, so I thought that I would share with you the process of making wine…
In the winter the vineyard sleeps. While we get snow here is does not negatively effect the vines. There is a quiet beauty found in the sleeping vineyard.
When spring arrives the vines awaken. The first green makes its appearance on the vines, and this is known as “bud break.” Shortly thereafter the grape clusters appear.
Towards the end of the growing season the clusters ripen and change color.
Once harvested, the grapes are brought in. Here is a bin loaded with Cabernet waiting to start the crush process.
The grapes are dropped into an auger that will regulate the flow of grapes to the sorting table.
After being hand sorted, where bad clusters, leaves and other debris is removed, the grapes head up a conveyor to the machine that will remove the grapes from the stems.
From the destemmer, the grape matter, including the seeds, go straight to a tank to begin fermentation.
Once in the tank fermentation begins, and while the skins of the grapes carry a yeast, it is not enough to really get fermentation going. So good quality yeast is added. The skins and seeds, along with the juice, will sit in the tanks for a week to 10 days. When fermentation hits 50% the tanks are drained and all is processed through a crush machine. 30% of the juice that will become wine comes from the skins and seeds. Here is a shot of the juice coming out of the press.
From the crush machine, the juice is then transferred to barrels where it will sit for the next year and half to two years.
Work is done on the barrels throughout this time frame until the wine is ready for bottling. From there is goes out for sale. Who does not enjoy a glass of wine?
I hope that you enjoyed this post of change! Please take some time to check out what others have posted in this challenge by clicking here!
Thanks for stopping by today, and I hope that you have a great weekend!
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There is a huge wine industry here in North San Diego County. I should go out some time and take pictures……………maybe a little wine tasting, too!
When you come and visit we can do that here too! And bring along a picnic lunch!
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What an excellent sequence of pictures and one that I, a wine lover (particularly of red) very much enjoyed. The picture of the juice dripping is a unique shot. I think I’ll go pour a glass right now. Salut!
janet
Prost! Thanks for the comment Janet!
Wow! Lovely photos! 🙂
Many thanks!
Thanks for the winemaking lesson and great photos. 🙂
You are welcome!
YUMMY
Indeed! When we crush the Grenache it smells like a bunch of fresh red roses!
Wonderful images!
Thank you Julia!
[…] From Grapes to Wine – A WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge | Life in the Foothills […]
[…] From Grapes to Wine – A WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge | Life in the Foothills […]
interesting flow of pictures!
[…] From Grapes to Wine – A WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge | Life in the Foothills […]
What a process..getting thirsty. Wonderful gallery! Especially love the liquid capture, wow!
It is amazing every year! Stop on by for a glass of wine!
Nice photo of the juice slowly dripping from the press. Also – nice to see the process from beginning to almost the end, the end being a glass of wine sitting in front of me waiting to be savored.
This is my kind of change. 🙂
Glad that you like it Bob and thank you for the comment!
WOW! for the picture of “skins get crushed.” Did you need to wipe off the camera lens after that shot?
At times when I photograph the crush process I do have to clean the lens of the camera! Thanks for the comment Roy!
you need the end result – the full wine glass! love the pic of the juice dripping out of the press.
I will have to pour one tonight and then add it!
Wow, that’s so interesting! Thank you for the great photos and information about how wine gets from field to table. 🙂