| Most of us know that wine comes from grapes | | | | wine is able to age longer and develop a more full |
| that are aged. But have you ever wondered what | | | | flavored bold taste. |
| helps the grape age properly and why red wines | | | | White wines have these same compounds but at |
| need more time to age than white wines? | | | | much lower levels. This is because the inside of |
| The process of aging starts immediately after the | | | | the grape is what wine manufacturers mostly use |
| grapes are picked, crushed and pressed. The | | | | and by not using as much of the exterior skin |
| grapes are then put into an oak barrel or steel | | | | less tannin is present. This results in a considerable |
| vat, with some winemakers preferring to add oak | | | | shorter aging process than a vat with a large |
| chips to the vat. During the aging process acids, | | | | amount of tannin present. Attempting to age |
| sugar and tannin interact. By having more tannin | | | | most white wines over an extended period |
| present the winemaker is able to age the wine | | | | causes it to flatten and lose some of its aromatic |
| for a longer period without fear of oxidation. This | | | | freshness. |
| along with temperature, light conditions, and | | | | So go ahead and save that special red wine for |
| alcohol complete the aging process. Wines age | | | | your Grandchild's marriage, but be sure to serve |
| faster with a warmer temperature. So the | | | | the white wine within two or three years. |
| winemaker tries to maintain a coolstable 55-65 | | | | Wines go through the above process to be ready |
| degree temperature in a dark area as the ideal | | | | for consumption. Next the wine is bottled and |
| aging atmosphere. A big fluctuation in temperature | | | | stored in wine cellars to finish the ageing process. |
| or light conditions on a daily or weekly basis is | | | | Most wines are consumable when the purchased. |
| detrimental to a good wine. | | | | The main reason is because no one expects to |
| Now why are red wines aged more than white | | | | plan the dinner menu for that special party two or |
| wines? A simple explanation is that all grapes are | | | | three years in advance in order to age the |
| white inside, which means that red wine needs to | | | | correct wine for the occasion. And how many |
| allow the exterior skin to mix with the interior | | | | people have a wine cellar to complete the aging |
| when being crushed to give it the red color. This | | | | process of their favorite wine? |
| mixture contains tannin, which also aids the aging | | | | Wine is also used in religious ceremonies in many |
| process significantly. You also get tannin from the | | | | cultures. The Bible mentions wine no less than 191 |
| oak sides of the barrel. Compounds within these, | | | | times. The references in both testaments often |
| known as phenolics, allow the wine to age longer | | | | admonish the reader to use wine, but to use it |
| while keeping the wine from oxidizing. So the red | | | | properly and not to misuse it. |