| The Wine Industry Uncorked! | | | | By: Byron Carman | << back  Page 3 of 4 next >> |
Carefully picked fruit takes more time→More time equates into more manpower→More manpower equates in production costs.→More production costs always equate to a more expensive bottle of wine. Notably, just because something is “hand picked”, doesn’t mean it’s going to be an awesome bottle of wine.
Once picked, grapes are crushed (Sorry hardly anyone stomps anymore. Stomping is just for the fun of it)
ROLL OUT THE BARRELS
Now wine isn’t just stored in any old barrel. The barrel world is a very complex one. Aging in oak typically imparts desirable vanilla, butter and spice flavors to wine.
Winemakers can order barrels with the wood on the inside of the barrel having been lightly charred or “toasted” with fire, medium toasted, or heavily toasted. The amount (depth) of charring has an influence on the wine. The decision regarding depth of charring is made on the basis of the grape variety used and style of wine desired. Barrels can also be ordered in different shapes and sizes or ordered made of Redwood or other woods.
Here’s just a snip it of the possible choices for a wine maker:
New or Slightly Used Barrel
100% French Oak Barrel…$2,000 each
100% American Oak
100% Hungarian Oak
French Oak /American Oak
French Oak/Hungarian Oak
Stainless Steel Barrel
A barrel can be used again for several productions. As they’re used, the oak flavor is extracted by the wine. The newer the barrel, the more flavor. By the time they have been used for about five years, they impart virtually no flavor to wine.
Frequently wine makers use oak chips while the wine is fermenting in an older barrel. Wood Chips do a good job of duplicating the job of the barrel, and most consumers can’t tell the difference. Notably, some countries have banned the usage of chips!
MUSICAL BARRELS
Some wine makers rotate their wine between barrels in order to get their best wine saturated by their best barrels. So, a white wine may go through 6 months in a stainless steel barrel and then move it to a new French oak barrel for a year and then move it to another older barrel until it’s bottled.
By doing so, they can free up their good barrels to be used with a new lot that’s been harvested.
THE STOCK MARKET
What is purchasing futures all about? It’s a lot like the stock market. You’re basically purchasing wine before it’s even bottled or released based on the winemaker. It’s kind of like buying stock in a company that’s just been listed on the stock exchange. While you may know the fine details about the company and its history, you’ll have no idea of just how well the company will do or if the stock price will increase.
Purchasing futures guarantees you’ll receive wine that’s perhaps been produced in limited quantities and perhaps a descent price for it. Often times a barrel of wine turns out better than expected and there’s more of a demand for it. Like company stock, the more demand…the more someone will pay for it. Wineries will often increase the price as it’s released.
Typically a winery will offer “barrel tasting” in order to give potential clients a taste of what’s to come from the production. Basically they tap into one of the barrels by sticking a turkey (sp?baster) inside and providing a wine sample.
SCREW TOP, BOX OR BOTTLE
More and more, we’re seeing wine bottles that have a screw top versus a traditional cork.The industry leads us to believe that a screw top is better because it seals the bottle better. However, to us wine consumers… it’s just not a fun to twist off versus popping a cork.
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