Written by Michael Bray, July 21 2022

When it comes to crafting a remarkable wine, it’s not just about what happens in the vineyard. After the winemaker shepherds the vines through a successful growing season and harvests the grapes at optimal ripeness, a number of vital decisions impact the fate of the wine-to-be.

The winemaker may choose to de-stem the grapes before pressing (thereby reducing the level of astringent tannins present in the juice), and they may choose to increase or decrease the length of time the juice is exposed to the grape skins to adjust color, texture, and flavor. Once the juice is ready, it’s transferred to fermentation tanks, where the main magic of winemaking happens, as the grape sugars are converted into alcohol.

After fermentation, the wine is transferred yet again to the vessel in which it will age before being released to the public. Winemakers select their fermentation and aging processes with great care, as the container in which the developing juice is housed will have a lasting impact on the finished wine. While winemakers can choose various containers and methods for aging their wines, I’ll be using today’s article to highlight the two most famous aging vessels: stainless steel tanks and oak barrels.

Click here to read the full article at Shore Local Newsmagazine.