From grape to wine a long, complex process

The wine-making process, from the grape to the finished product, is a long and delicate process that is aimed at bringing out the finest qualities from the vineyard.

Unlike grapes meant for eating, grapes for wine making are smaller in size and contain less water because the process requires concentrating the sugar.

Apart from soil conditions it is also rainfall, air temperature and wind that all have a strong influence on the vintage. This makes each vintage different to another.

"That is why it is fascinating to compare vintages from the same vineyard with the same wine maker," said president of French wine maker Chateau Beychevelle Aymar de Baillenx.

Grapes are harvested by hand and then transported to the winery in crates to minimize damage. The grapes are then carefully sorted out to eliminate all impurities before they are crushed to separate the juice.

Then comes the fermentation process, during which the sugar content in the juice will be transformed into alcohol with the help of a certain yeast.

After that, the wine will undergo the aging process where it will be stored for a certain period of time, depending on the quality of the wine. Simple wines less than six months old are bottled immediately, while good wines are aged in oak barrels for up to 30 months.

Wine flavors can come from the fruit or from elements it captures from the oak barrels. This is because the inside of the barrels are burned in a way to give the wine a certain kind of flavor like vanilla or toasted bread, for example.

The aging process continues in stone vaulted cellars, sheltered from light and at a constant temperature and humidity level. The latter is not only good for the wine but also good for the cork.

The cork, usually natural, plays an important role as it enables the penetration of oxygen required for the aging process. It is also important to keep the wine bottles in a horizontal position so the liquid comes in contact with the cork and keeps it moist. Otherwise, the cork will become dry and the wine oxidized.

Some wine is worth keeping because their character improves with time. However, some others are best enjoyed when young. "Keeping the ones that are not suitable for aging is not wise. The longer you keep it, the more the taste will resemble a vinegar," said Patrick Lim from wine and spirit distributor company PT Tebet Indraya.

Sometimes, white wine is not just white and red wine is not just red. Different wines are combined to create balance and to improve the strength and its aging potential.

"If you use these wines separately you will have two less refined wines," explained Laurent Bonnet. -- Maria Endah Hulupi