Can we talk about oak for a minute? And by talk, I mean literally. If you haven’t been listening to our “Voices of the Vine” podcast, Virginia and I just took several episodes to cover all-things-oak. From oak history to how oak is manufactured for wine barrels, we looked at it ALL. Here are some […]
Cellar Tools
Avoid Filtration Frenzy
Have you previously experienced difficult-to-filter wines? Are you sure it was the wine that was difficult? Or, could your production practices lead you into a higher prevalence of filtration problems? Let’s find out together. Components in Wine Most of us are familiar with the possibility of microorganisms in the wine. Wine harbors various yeasts and […]
Cold Stability Explained
This may be an unpopular opinion, but I don’t think there is any way to “sell” wine diamonds to the average wine consumer. I’ve heard so many explanations for why they exist in a wine bottle: At the end of all the explanations, and sometimes we need those excuses because physical chemistry is hard, the […]
2 Tools to Elevate Wine Quality in 2025
It’s EASY to get into the routine and complacency of making the same wine year in and year out. What if I told you there’s also an easy way to take your winemaking prowess to the next level that won’t cost you a thing, other than a bit of time? Well… it’s here. It’s time. […]
Wine is Made. Now What?
The post-harvest lull, for many, can feel like a short reprieve in the cellar. However, post-processing is when real winemaking operations begins! There are many requirements in the cellar that still demand the winemaker’s attention. Today, I’m going to review a few key operations that require focus between November and December. 1. Ensure MLF is […]
Are You Stabilizing and Preparing Wines for Bottle Properly?
While many winemakers tend to focus heavily on operations and timeliness during harvest, the reality is that post-fermentation processes tend to require a better understanding by many winemakers. Failing to recognize when an operational step is required can be heavily detrimental to wine quality and extend resources of winery employees that are unnecessary. For example, […]
