Article

Malvasia Bianca: A Greek grape that has gotten around

A grape of Mediterranean origins, Malvasia grapes spread throughout the region under the umbrella name. Get the scoop on this unusual family

Wine-wizard

Tips For Making Cantaloupe Wine

Article

Fermentation Completion, Vinegar Storage Space and Cantaloupe Wine

A winemaker is left scratching their head when a wine that seemingly has fermented dry is still producing bubbles. The Wizard also provides

Article

Drawing Inspiration from Valpolicella

Wineries can, and often do, create four distinct wines from a single vineyard in the Italian Valpolicella region. Amarone is the most famous

Wine-wizard

Cures To An Oversulfited Wine

Technique

Going The Distance: Crafting age-worthy wines

When you set your sights on making a “keeper” wine, one you plan to lay down for several years, there are certain techniques you can emp

Article

Flexible Frontenac: Making a case for this hybrid

Scattered throughout the Upper Midwest and Rockies, Frontenac wines are making waves as winemakers learn to coax a lot of flavor from this r

Article

Preserving Oak Barrels, Oversulfited Wine, Film on a Carboy, and Beginner Tips

What is the best way to store oak barrels that don’t have wine in them? Get the answer from the Wine Wizard, as well as her advice for a c

Wine-wizard

Steps to Preserve Your Oak Barrel

Article

Maceration Considerations

As harvest nears it is time to make a plan of action for how you will proceed with each batch you plan to make this fall. With red wines the

Technique

Maceration Enzymes: Making the most of these additions

There are a lot of enzyme products available to winemakers, but in general they can be broken into just a few classes. Learn when and why a

Article

The Illustrious Chardonnay: Fine-tuning the classic

The king of the white wines, Chardonnay can be expressed in a wide array of styles. Chik Brenneman takes readers on a journey through this g

Wine-wizard

Topping My Wines Off

Article

Top Me Off, Rules of Fining, and Achieving Cold Stable Wines

Get some pointers and considerations a winemaker needs to keep in mind when topping off your aging wine vessels. The Wizard also answers que

Article

Maturation Intervention

No matter how much attention we give a wine, sometimes it will disappoint when tasted for the first time during aging. It may not be faulted

Technique

Backsweetening Fruit Wines

Backsweetening is a popular method to balance and bring out the fruit character in fruit wines. We enlist two experts to share their tips to

Article

Bold Brianna: A strong and healthy grower

Elmer Swenson’s grape breeding program has had a profound effect on the North American wine scene. One such grape to come from his program

Article

More Butter, Please; Caveats with Pectic Enzymes; and Wonky Grape Numbers

Not everyone loves a buttery Chardonnay but for those that seek out this characteristic the Wine Wizard has some sage fermentation advice to

Wine-wizard

Using Pectic Enzymes in a Red Wine

Article

The Role of Varietal Thiols in White Wines

Volatile thiols are delicate but powerful aromatic compounds released during fermentation. Through careful techniques and yeast selection, t

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Go Big at Home

Wine-wizard

Malolactic Fermentation After Cold Stabilizing

I plan to cold stabilize over the winter months in my winery. Will malolactic fermentation under these circumstances naturally kick back in

Article

Oxygen Ingression, Volatile Acidity Interventions, Sorbate Question, and Malolactic Timing

Sometimes we get several questions that revolve around a similar theme. The Wine Wizard had several questions this go-round on volatile acid

Technique

The Winemaker’s Pantry: Supplies to keep on hand

For those that are regular winemakers, the accoutrements start to add up through the years. Here is a guide for folks to consider what thing

Article

Grenache Blanc: Some lessons from the Old World

Grenache Blanc is a grape from the northwestern region of Spain and, as the name implies, has evolved from Grenache Noir. Chik Brenneman pro