The pleasure of red wine

Red wine is one of the most consumed beverages in the world, since it has a great variety in flavor, aroma and color that make its tasting a spectacle for our senses. That is why, as an alcoholic beverage, it is capable of lowering quality standards and appearing as one of the most elegant and suitable drinks for any special occasion.

However, the quality of red wine will always be affected by the strict measures of its production process, since it should be noted that it must comply with a series of steps and techniques that will result in an exemplary wine, in other words , the variety of nuances that are produced from this type of wine will be directly related to the type of soil, climate, grapes, and even what refers to the production and aging process.

That is why in the following post we will explain everything related to red wine, from its production process and final characteristics. In this way you will be able to see how this important drink is more than a common wine and how you can take advantage of its advantages in your social and personal life.

Red wine production process

  In the first place, the harvest process will be carried out, which consists of collecting the grape clusters that are at the perfect point of ripeness, through manual or mechanical techniques. After that, the destemming process must be carried out, which refers to the dismemberment of the scraping of the grape bunch, therefore, it is squeezed to remove all the juice or must of the red grape.

Later, during the alcoholic fermentation, which is generated from the combination of sugar with yeast, the maceration process between the must and the grape skins is developed at the same time, where its importance lies in the fact that this process will define the amount of tannins and therefore the level of astringency of red wine will be determined. It should be noted that this entire process is carried out at a controlled temperature between 25 and 30º C and lasts approximately 5 to 15 days.

After that, the separation of the yolk must and the press must is carried out, leaving the latter as the main raw material, since it has a large amount of tannins and color, followed by a second fermentation called malolactic where the lactic bacteria they transform malic acid into lactic acid and this softens the acidity level of the wine, as well as giving it greater microbiological stability. At the same time, it should be remembered that this process takes between 15 and 30 days and takes place at a controlled temperature between 18 and 20ºC.

  Next, after the two fermentations mentioned above, the wine is poured into another container to eliminate the sediments that have previously formed. In this way, substances such as gelatin, bentonite or albumin are added to clarify the particles that are to be eliminated. Thus, the wine is filtered as many times as necessary in order to completely remove any residue or particles.

Finally, the aging process is carried out, which is one of the most important, since its oxidative stability, its tannic structure and its aromatic complexity will be determined from this, characteristics that define the quality of a good wine. In this way it should be mentioned that its aging process is carried out in American or French oak barrels, on the other hand, when talking about the aging time it can be said that it varies depending on the type of wine, whether it is young reserve or large reserve. It is also worth noting that after aging in barrels, some wines also go through the process of aging in the bottle before being released to the market.

Characteristics of red wine

Color: As mentioned above, being one of the types of wine that have a great variety, red wine in relation to color can be seen from an intense purple tone to a light ruby. It should be noted that everything will depend on the type of grape and its skin pigments, as well as the maceration process of the must with the grape skins, where the amount of tannins and the level of fermentation of the wine will be defined.

In addition, the aging process will also be vital when talking about the color of red wine, so in the case of young red wines a brighter and more vivid color can be observed, while aged wines tend to lose tones and have a brown color.

Tannin Concentration: The amount of tannins in red wine will define the level of astringency when tasting this wine, therefore, from the process of maceration and fermentation of the wine, the amount of tannins will be determined and therefore the structure and body of the red wine, in addition to its ability to keep in the barrels, so in the case of young wines these tend to have green tannins, while mature red wines have rounder and fuller-bodied tannins.

Acidity level: It is one of the most important aspects in the wine because it will determine the level of freshness and lightness of it. This characteristic will be determined by factors such as the type of grape, the soil, the climate and the winemaking process, in addition this is regulated through the malolactic fermentation process which was mentioned above.

Aroma: red wine can provide us with various aromas, so it is advisable to perceive them through a wide-mouthed wine glass that allows the aroma to be released by shaking it slowly. When talking about the aroma of red wine, it can be summarized into three types, the first refers to the smell of the grape, which is generally fruity, while the second aroma corresponds to the fermentation process of the must and is characterized by a yeasty smell and vinegar.

Finally, the third aroma develops during the aging process in the barrel and later in the bottle, so it will be a more complex aroma since in this case the type of wood used for the barrel is directly involved, in addition to the contact time, the climatic and environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity level, but the aroma itself can be very varied from fruity, woody, spicy and balsamic.

In short, red wine is one of the types of wine most appreciated by wine lovers, which is why at Bodegas de Andalucía we invite you not to miss out on the pleasant experience of selecting the best Andalusian wines so that you can share that special moment that you so deserve, take your time and choose the red wine that you like best, remember that we are trusted suppliers and our quality is guaranteed.