The elixir of grapes: red wine

Red wine is a beverage whose consumption is increasing, so much so that wine-producing countries have regions dedicated exclusively to the harvesting, cultivation and fermentation of grapes for the development of red wine.

Red wine is a drink whose consumption is increasing, so much so that wine-producing countries have regions dedicated exclusively to the harvesting, cultivation and fermentation of grapes for the development of red wine.

This is why there are red wine producing regions such as the Rhône Valley or Bordeaux in France, Tuscany in Italy, Rioja in Spain in Europe. In America there is Napa in the United States, Mendoza in Argentina and Aconcagua in Chile.

However, there is still much to discover about this drink, which is why in today's article we are going to learn in depth how red wine is made, the benefits of drinking it and what types of red wine there are.

What grape is used to make red wine?

Let's start by knowing which grape is used to make red wine . Due to the color, red grapes are used, especially the must , which is the juice of the grape with all the seeds and skin.

Types of red wine by the grape used

It should be noted that not all red grapes are used to produce red wine . They must have certain characteristics, such as belonging to the Vitis vinifera variety . In this classification, there are grapes known as noble varieties for making red wine. Would you like to know them?

1.- Merlot

If you are just starting out in the world of wine, you can check which grape your favorite red wine has on the label.

In the case of the Merlot grape , it is originally from the French region of Bordeaux . This does not make it exclusive to that area, as it is also grown in Chile, Australia and California.

It has the characteristic of maturing quickly, it is ideal for young wines , which is why red wines made with Merlot are usually light, ruby-colored and have aromas of fruits and truffles.

2.- Cabernet Sauvignon

Like Merlot, the Cabernet Sauvignon grape also comes from Bordeaux. This is the most famous and common grape in red wines.

It is believed that the Cabernet Sauvignon grape is the one that produces the best red wines , due to its aromas and properties. It usually produces red wines with acidic tones and a dark, almost black, bluish color . In addition, it is a grape that can age very well in oak barrels .

3.- Pinot Noir

On the other hand, we have the pinot noir grape , originating from the French region of Burgundy . Being a rather sensitive grape, it is not easy to grow, so depending on the production area, a very special red wine can be obtained.

Wines made from Pinot Noir grapes tend to be fruity and full-bodied , and you can identify them by their aromas with notes of red fruits, especially cherry.

4.- Syrah

Commonly known as Syrah in Europe and Shiraz in the New World, it is Australia's signature red grape.

As we mentioned, there are still many unknowns within the world of wine, and the origin of this grape is one of them. There is a belief that the Syrah grape comes from a Persian city called Shiraz, this is due to the similarity of the name.

However, this grape comes from the French region of the Rhône . This grape has the characteristic of producing red wines with great aging potential in barrels and therefore long aging. It has fruity aromas such as raspberries and figs.

5.- Tempranillo

Changing the geographical area a little, we move on to Spain, especially to the regions of Rioja and Ribera del Duero, where it is the emblematic grape. Its name comes from the characteristic of needing to be harvested at an early stage. That is, at harvest time, it is the first red grape to be harvested.

However, this characteristic does not mean that it is only used in young wines; on the contrary, depending on the type of aging, the Tempranilla grape can create crianza, reserva or gran reserva red wines.

What is the fermentation process for a red wine?

Contrary to popular belief, there is no standardized methodology or process when it comes to the production of red wine , or wine in general. However, there are some phases that are essential to creating a red wine , and they are the following:

1.- Harvest

In other words, it is the collection of bunches of grapes that will be used to make red wines.

The agronomist together with the winemaker make the decision to harvest when the sugar level is adequate to achieve a good fermentation process in red wine.

2.- Destemming

You can probably imagine what this process consists of, yes, it is precisely the elimination of branches and stems that may have grapes , in the same way the leaves are removed from the bunch to leave only the grapes and move on to the next phase.

3.- Crushing

Do you remember that iconic scene that appears in several movies where barefoot people stomp grapes to extract the juice that will become red wine ? Well, while this is how grape juice was extracted in ancient times, nowadays special machines are used to extract the juice from grapes, taking care that the seeds do not break, since they can make the red wine bitter .

4.- Maceration

This is where the fermentation of the must begins , as it is left to rest for two weeks together with the skin of the grape, so that the red wine obtains its hue. For this process to be successful, care must be taken to ensure that the temperature is adequate and this depends on the location of the winery and the knowledge of the winemaker.

5.- Discover

This stage involves transferring the maceration liquid to another container to continue fermentation for another period of two to three weeks. During fermentation, the yeasts will transform the grape sugar into alcohol.

6.- Pressing

After decanting, the red wine goes through another process in the mechanical press to extract two types of wine. Here there is something to clarify and that is that both wines after this process cannot be mixed and each one has to continue with the process separately.

7.- Malolactic fermentation

This step is very important to transform malic acid into lactic acid . This will happen naturally due to the bacteria in the grape itself. However, the temperature conditions and duration of this step must be kept under control.

Why? Here, the acidity level of the wine and its flavour are controlled. It is a transformation of an acid similar to that of a green apple to that of a yoghurt, giving it a more palatable acidity.

8.- Breeding

Aging involves letting the red wine rest in white oak barrels , which are toasted. The amount of time it should be left to rest will depend on the level of toasting and the type of wood.

This also includes the racking process, which involves transferring the red wine from one barrel to another to air it and remove any residue that may be present . The wine is clarified, that is, it is cleaned to remove any unwanted particles in the red wine and prevent it from becoming cloudy. If it is a young red wine, it does not go through a barrel.

9.- Bottling

Finally, the wine is ready to be bottled.

Benefits of drinking red wine

Everything in moderation is good, and the same applies to red wine , as several studies have indicated that drinking an occasional glass of red wine has quite a few health benefits . These include:

• Prevents cholesterol: As we grow, our veins and arteries accumulate fat, which is known as cholesterol, thanks to their high concentration of antioxidants.
• Delays aging: Resveratrol is the main antioxidant found in grape skins. This antioxidant prevents oxidative stress that causes our body's cells to age faster.
• Prevents neurodegenerative diseases: On the other hand, drinking red wine also prevents neurodegenerative diseases such as senile dementia, Alzheimer's, among others.
• Improves our heart health: Red wine is also rich in vitamin E, which helps cleanse our blood , preventing the accumulation of fat and the formation of clots.
• Helps you lose weight : Last but not least, red wine helps you lose weight as it does not allow the formation of fat cells and will eventually purify any excess fat we may have.

Now that you know more about red wine and its production process , as well as the types of wine according to their grape and the benefits of red wine for our health, come to Vinícola El Cielo so they can recommend a bottle according to your tastes.

If you liked this article, don't forget to share it with other red wine lovers and share it with your friends and on social media. Stay tuned for the new content we have prepared for you.

This is why there are red wine producing regions such as the Rhône Valley or Bordeaux in France, Tuscany in Italy, Rioja in Spain in Europe. In America there is Napa in the United States, Mendoza in Argentina and Aconcagua in Chile.

However, there is still much to discover about this drink, which is why in today's article we are going to learn in depth how red wine is made, the benefits of drinking it and what types of red wine there are.

What grape is used to make red wine?

Let's start by knowing which grape is used to make red wine . Due to the color, red grapes are used, especially the must , which is the juice of the grape with all the seeds and skin.

Types of red wine by the grape used

It should be noted that not all red grapes are used to produce red wine . They must have certain characteristics, such as belonging to the Vitis vinifera variety . In this classification, there are grapes known as noble varieties for making red wine. Would you like to know them?

1.- Merlot

If you are just starting out in the world of wine, you can check which grape your favorite red wine has on the label.

In the case of the Merlot grape , it is originally from the French region of Bordeaux . This does not make it exclusive to that area, as it is also grown in Chile, Australia and California.

It has the characteristic of maturing quickly, it is ideal for young wines , which is why red wines made with Merlot are usually light, ruby-colored and have aromas of fruits and truffles.

2.- Cabernet Sauvignon

Like Merlot, the Cabernet Sauvignon grape also comes from Bordeaux. This is the most famous and common grape in red wines.

It is believed that the Cabernet Sauvignon grape is the one that produces the best red wines , due to its aromas and properties. It usually produces red wines with acidic tones and a dark, almost black, bluish color . In addition, it is a grape that can age very well in oak barrels .

3.- Pinot Noir

On the other hand, we have the pinot noir grape , originating from the French region of Burgundy . Being a rather sensitive grape, it is not easy to grow, so depending on the production area, a very special red wine can be obtained.

Wines made from Pinot Noir grapes tend to be fruity and full-bodied , and you can identify them by their aromas with notes of red fruits, especially cherry.

4.- Syrah

Commonly known as Syrah in Europe and Shiraz in the New World, it is Australia's signature red grape.

As we mentioned, there are still many unknowns within the world of wine, and the origin of this grape is one of them. There is a belief that the Syrah grape comes from a Persian city called Shiraz, this is due to the similarity of the name.

However, this grape comes from the French region of the Rhône . This grape has the characteristic of producing red wines with great aging potential in barrels and therefore long storage. It has fruity aromas such as raspberries and figs.

5.- Tempranillo

Changing the geographical area a little, we move on to Spain, especially to the regions of Rioja and Ribera del Duero, where it is the emblematic grape. Its name comes from the characteristic of needing to be harvested at an early stage. That is, at harvest time, it is the first red grape to be harvested.

However, this characteristic does not mean that it is only used in young wines; on the contrary, depending on the type of aging, the Tempranilla grape can create crianza, reserva or gran reserva red wines.

What is the fermentation process for a red wine?

Contrary to popular belief, there is no standardized methodology or process when it comes to the production of red wine , or wine in general. However, there are some phases that are essential to creating a red wine , and they are the following:

1.- Harvest

In other words, it is the collection of bunches of grapes that will be used to make red wines.

The agronomist together with the winemaker make the decision to harvest when the sugar level is adequate to achieve a good fermentation process in red wine.

2.- Destemming

You can probably imagine what this process consists of, yes, it is precisely the elimination of branches and stems that may have grapes , in the same way the leaves are removed from the bunch to leave only the grapes and move on to the next phase.

3.- Crushing

Do you remember that iconic scene that appears in several movies where barefoot people stomp grapes to extract the juice that will become red wine ? Well, while this is how grape juice was extracted in ancient times, nowadays special machines are used to extract the juice from grapes, taking care that the seeds do not break, since they can make the red wine bitter .

4.- Maceration

This is where the fermentation of the must begins , as it is left to rest for two weeks together with the skin of the grape, so that the red wine obtains its hue. For this process to be successful, care must be taken to ensure that the temperature is adequate and this depends on the location of the winery and the knowledge of the winemaker.

5.- Discover

This stage involves transferring the maceration liquid to another container to continue fermentation for another period of two to three weeks. During fermentation, the yeasts will transform the grape sugar into alcohol.

6.- Pressing

After decanting, the red wine goes through another process in the mechanical press to extract two types of wine. Here there is something to clarify and that is that both wines after this process cannot be mixed and each one has to continue with the process separately.

7.- Malolactic fermentation

This step is very important to transform malic acid into lactic acid . This will happen naturally due to the bacteria in the grape itself. However, the temperature conditions and duration of this step must be kept under control.

Why? Here, the acidity level of the wine and its flavour are controlled. It is a transformation of an acid similar to that of a green apple to that of a yoghurt, giving it a more palatable acidity.

8.- Breeding

Aging involves letting the red wine rest in white oak barrels , which are toasted. The amount of time it should be left to rest will depend on the level of toasting and the type of wood.

This also includes the racking process, which involves transferring the red wine from one barrel to another to air it and remove any residue that may be present . The wine is clarified, that is, it is cleaned to remove any unwanted particles in the red wine and prevent it from becoming cloudy. If it is a young red wine, it does not go through a barrel.

9.- Bottling

Finally, the wine is ready to be bottled.

Benefits of drinking red wine

Everything in moderation is good, and the same applies to red wine , as several studies have indicated that drinking an occasional glass of red wine has quite a few health benefits . These include:

• Prevents cholesterol: As we grow, our veins and arteries accumulate fat, which is known as cholesterol, thanks to their high concentration of antioxidants.
• Delays aging: Resveratrol is the main antioxidant found in grape skins. This antioxidant prevents oxidative stress that causes our body's cells to age faster.
• Prevents neurodegenerative diseases: On the other hand, drinking red wine also prevents neurodegenerative diseases such as senile dementia, Alzheimer's, among others.
• Improves our heart health: Red wine is also rich in vitamin E, which helps cleanse our blood , preventing the accumulation of fat and the formation of clots.
• Helps you lose weight : Last but not least, red wine helps you lose weight as it does not allow the formation of fat cells and will eventually purify any excess fat we may have.

Now that you know more about red wine and its production process , as well as the types of wine according to their grape and the benefits of red wine for our health, come to Vinícola El Cielo so they can recommend a bottle according to your tastes.

If you liked this article, don't forget to share it with other red wine lovers and share it with your friends and on social media. Stay tuned for the new content we have prepared for you.