D1.C12. Approaches to Winemaking

Question 1

Describe the processes used in conventional winemaking

Answer 1

- Temperature control during:
   \+ Cold soaking
   \+ Fermentation
   \+ Maturation phase
- Use of additives and/or processing aids of many types
   \+ Sugar
   \+ SO2
   \+ Cultured yeasts
   \+ Fining agents
- Manipulations
   \+ Filtration
   \+ Reverse osmosis

Question 2

What are the factors that dictate the manipulations to be made in winemaking?

Answer 2

• Style of the wine
• Price of the wine
• Health and ripeness of the grapes
• Particular beliefs/preferences of the winemaker

Question 3

Why is sterile filtration desirable in wines with residual sugar, whereas it is not desirable for premium dry white wines?

Answer 3

• Sterile filtering of wines with residual sugar is usually desirable as the sugar makes them prone to spoilage organisms.
• For premium dry wines, sterile filtration may remove some texture and/or flavours from the wine

Question 4

Organic winemaking consists of:

Answer 4

• Making wine with certified organically-grown grapes
• Complying with rules that restrict certain practices from being performed during the winemaking process

Question 5

What is the certification agency for organic winemaking?

Answer 5

Ecocert

Question 6

What does Ecocert indicate in terms of additives?

Answer 6

It indicates that organic raw materials should be used if possible (e.g. organic egg white albumin for fining)

Question 7

Name one practice that is excluded by Ecocert?

Answer 7

Partial de-alcoholisation

Question 8

What is the difference between EU and USA in terms of SO2 addition in organic winemaking?

Answer 8

• EU allows addition of regulated amounts of SO2
• USA excludes any addition of SO2 and requires naturally occurring SO2 to be less than 10 mg/L. Also for the wines made from the organic grapes, addition of SO2 is not allowed

Question 9

What kinds of grapes must be used to produce certified biodynamic wine?

Answer 9

Certified biodynamically grown grapes

Question 10

What is the certification association for biodynamic winemaking?

Answer 10

Demeter International

Question 11

What are the different specifications related to yeast usage set for UK and USA for biodynamic winemaking?

Answer 11

• UK: Natural yeasts are encouraged, but organic or, if unavailable, commercial yeasts can be used
• USA: Natural yeasts must be used, but certain classes of commercial yeast can be used if a ferment has stuck and then only on a case-by-case basis

Question 12

What is natural wine?

Answer 12

• While there is no agreed definition for natural wine
• In practice it usually refers to wine made with the fewest possible manipulations (low-intervention winemaking), including fermentation by ambient yeasts and with an absolute minimum of added SO2 (often only at bottling) or no added SO2

Question 13

What kinds of grapes can be used to make natural wines?

Answer 13

• Natural wine can be made from conventionally or sustainably grown grapes
• Most natural winemakers argue that organic or biodynamic grapes should be used whether certified or not

Question 14

What is the certification body for natural winemaking?

Answer 14

• There is no certifying body, any winery can claim that any of their wines are natural
• However, there are associations that publish their own approach and/or standards (ViniVeri in Italy and L’Association des Vins Naturels in France)