Wine guides
What is RCGM?
RCGM (Rectified Concentrated Grape Must) is a sweetening component that can be added to dry wines to produce inexpensive wines with residual sugar.
What is chaptalisation?
Chaptalisation is the process of adding sugar to must to increase the alcohol content of final wine. The wine will most probably be totally dry. This technique was developed by...
Monovarietal vs. blended wine
Wine is a complex and nuanced beverage that can be produced in a variety of ways. One of the key decisions winemakers make when producing wine is whether to create...
What are press fractions?
Press fractions refer to the different portions of juice that are extracted from grapes during pressing. The free-run juice is the juice that is released naturally from the grapes...
Indigenous vs. commercial yeasts
Wine has been an important part of human culture for thousands of years, and today it is enjoyed by people all over the world. While many people are familiar with...
Bordeaux grape varieties
Merlot, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc for red wines. Sémillon, sauvignon blanc and muscadelle for white wines. These are the major grape varieties of the largest French wine growing area....
Blind tasting tips
Do you want to know the secret of all experts of blind tasting? Here it is: practise. 😇 But now, where to start? Here are few tips I learned. ...
What is carbonic maceration?
Carbonic maceration is a wine production technique that is used to produce light and fruity wines. It is a process that takes place in the absence of air, where whole...
Sparkling winemaking methods
There are several methods used to produce sparkling wines: Traditional method: Also known as the "méthode champenoise", this is the process used to produce the majority of sparkling wines,...
What is En Primeur in Bordeaux?
En Primeur refers to the practice of buying wine in Bordeaux before it has been bottled and released, as futures. This means customers purchase the wine in advance, often up...
What is lees ageing?
Lees aging is a process in which wine is allowed to sit on its sediment, or lees, for a period of time. This can enhance the texture, flavours and complexity...
Basket press vs. pneumatic press
Basket press A basket press is a traditional mechanical press that is used to extract juice from grapes or other fruits. It consists of a large, cylindrical basket that is...
