Lactic Acid

Amphora is a traditional clay or terracotta vessel used for fermenting, aging and storing wine. These vessels are neutral and porous, allowing micro oxygenation without adding oak flavors.

Maceration in wine is the process of soaking crushed grape skins, seeds and stems in the juice (must) to extract color, tannins and aroma compounds.

Hybrid varieties are created by crossing two or more different grapevine species to get a final product that offers resistance to cold, diseases and humidity, making them ideal for tough climates.

Irrigation is the artificial application of water to vineyards to provide the necessary 25-35 inches of annual water in dry climates.

The harvest marks the end of the vine growing cycle, typically occuring between August and October in the Northern hemisphere. It is the stage where ripe grapes are picked from the vineyard to begin winemaking.

Lees are the dead yeast cells, grape seeds and skins left over in the fermentation tank after fermentation. There are two types of lees; gross lees and fine lees.

Aging is a post fermentation process where wine rests in barrels (mainly oak) or bottles to undergo chemical changes that improves stability, develops complex flavors and clarifies the liquid.

The Crush refers to the period in late summer or fall when harvested grapes are mechanically broken to rupture their skins and release the juice, initiating the winemaking process.