Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a newcomer curious about the world of wine, understanding a few basics opens a new door to a journey of discovery!
Why should I Decant a Wine?
Decanting can be beneficial for both young and old red wines. It allows young wines to breathe, softening harsh tannins but it also revitalizes older wines by separating sediment and rejuvenating flavours!
We often say one hour of decanting is like aging a wine for one year. This process will make younger red wines taste smoother and fruitier. For older red wines one of the numerous benefits of decanting is separating the sediment from the liquid. Sediment is a normal part of the aging process and makes for a less enjoyable experience.
Decanting is more than just a fancy step – it’s a key to unlocking the true essence of your wine.
What is Ripasso?
Ripasso is a winemaking technique primarily associated with the Valpolicella wine region in Italy. Ripasso, meaning “re-pass,” or “go over again,” is the process in which the grape skins, already pressed, from Appassimento wines, are added back to enhance the base wine. In our case we use the skins of our Appassimento wines (Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Merlot) and re-pass them and pass through the wine for Corposo. There is still a lot of tannin and colour left in the skins which can be further extracted to make the extraordinary flavour experience in our Corposo!
How do you properly age wine?
We all change, mature, and hopefully improve with age. Wine is no different!
The key to properly aging wine is storing it correctly. When storing your wines you will want to keep these things in mind:
– The ideal temperature is around 11°C to 14°C!
– Avoid direct light, artificial or natural!
– Wine should be stored horizontally. This helps keep the cork moist and helps ensure that air doesn’t leak into the bottle.
Do you know where one of the worst places to store wine is? On top of the fridge! As a large appliance, your fridge will generate heat and create vibrations as it hums along, making for less than desirable conditions.
How many bottles of wine are in a barrel?
Well, it’s all about the barrel size and the wine type.
A standard barrel holds about 225 liters of wine. So, if you are filling standard bottles of 750ml, the math will add to about 300 bottles. However, this can vary slightly based on the exact size of the barrel and the specific dimensions of the bottles used.