Before that lovely bottle of wine reaches your hands, there is a careful process that vineyards follow to ensure that you get the same quality bottle that you expect every time. While there are many wine varieties, they basically follow the same wine-making process. There are differences when it comes to the grapes that are being used and how long the ageing process is. This is the determinant for the many wine varieties available in the market.

Wine is composed only of grapes. But it is the process of wine-making that makes the grapes produce not just a glass of grape juice but a lovely bottle of wine. The process starts with the harvest of the finest grapes that is right for picking. To hasten the harvest, some vineyards opt for mechanical harvesting while there are some vineyards where there are people who pick the grapes to be used by hand. Harvest is normally done during the early hours of the morning so that the cool weather will not destroy the natural juices of the grapes when picked.

The harvested grapes are next de-stemmed and crushed. Using specialized machines, the grapes are crushed so its juices get released. Some vineyards crush the grapes manually instead of using machines. The pulp is separated and the juice now goes through a series of processes to finally exude that exquisite wine taste. For the next step which is fermentation, yeast is added to the juice so that when the yeasts consumes the grape juice, it will turn to alcohol and carbon dioxide, the two properties that should be present in all wine varieties and what differentiates them from other beverages including simple grape juice.

When alcohol and carbon dioxide has formed, the long ageing process will now take place. Some vineyards have stainless steel barrels where they store their wines for years before they can become wines that can be commercially sold. Wine experts say that wines that are aged in oak barrels have better taste and quality, and the major vineyards around the world do age their wines in oak barrels. The ageing of the wine is monitored so the proper quality can be achieved. Ageing them for longer periods than required may spoil the wine and turn them into vinegar.

The wines are transferred from one barrel to another over periods of time to take out any sediment that has formed so that the wine will be as clear and pure as it can possibly be. The wines are filtered as well for the very same purpose.

The last step is bottling the wines. Quality is checked and all the other environmental factors are controlled such as the temperature and sealing mechanisms. The corks or stainless caps that are used to seal the wine are checked as well so the wine will not be affected or contaminated by other materials.

Some people say that passion is also an important ingredient in making wines. And for wine experts and aficionados, they will share romance with a glass of wine no matter what variety it is.

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The presence of wine in any place is synonymous to fun, life, and enjoyment. Wines are enjoyed all around the world whether as an accompaniment to a meal, or as a drink that is meant to bring out the lively spirit at a celebration. Compared to other drinks such as soda, juices, or coffee, wine is truly more sophisticated and elegant in every sense of the word.

It is easy to store a can of beer –  just pop it into the fridge and take it out anytime and add ice, and the quality is relatively the same for any occasion. However, storing wine is both an art and science, and there are wine cellars and wine connoisseurs that can take on the matter perfectly. For storing wines at home, here are some things that you need to know to make your wine as great tasting as it can possibly be.

– Store your wine in a cool and dark place. Wines, especially the ones capped with corks, should not allow oxygen to permeate inside the bottles because the oxygen can easily spoil wines. For bottles that are not dark in color, light can also penetrate the bottle and the wine’s exposure to sunlight and even fluorescent lamps will produce an unpleasant smell to it when opened.

– Place the wine horizontally. Lay the wines on their sides so the cork will not turn dry and any sediment will not form easily as compared to bottles placed vertically in storage.

– Make the wine placement as permanent as possible. Avoid changing the placement or location of the wine and avoid moving it around. When placed inside the refrigerator, place it in a steady place so you do not have to move it, or worse, take it out even momentarily to get something else. Wine is sensitive to vibration and movement and any change in temperature, even momentarily or longer, should be made as slowly as possible.

– Store in wine cellars or in an isolated place. It is best that wines are stored in cellars where it is dark, cool, and you can control and monitor the temperature inside. Wine cellars are already specifically for wines alone. However, if you are to store it in an alternative location, it should be stored only with other wines as well. Isolate the wines because any food articles that comes in contact with it, particularly in a place where the foods may spoil, may cause the smell to penetrate the bottle thus affecting the smell, taste, and overall quality of the wine.

– For half bottles of wine, cover them with a piece of sealing plastic on top. Be sure that the plastic is clung tight so the alcohol will not escape.

– You can open your bottle of red wine, secure the opening and keep it for the next few days where it will still maintain its quality. For white wines, consume them all immediately because white wine is not really meant to be kept after it has been opened.