Many
factors contribute to a good wine with time and the type of grape used
as key factors.
Yeast is the key ingredient that is used to turn grape juice into wine.
Interestingly enough, wild yeast spores that float in the air are all
that is really necessary to make wine in an open container of grape
juice.
Of course, time is an important element as well. However, if the grape
juice was left simply to the open air, the wine that would develop over
time would not be very palatable.
Although numerous strains of yeast exist, the types of yeast used to
make wine have been cultured just for the purpose of making wine.
Yeast is a living organism that feeds off the sugars that are in the
grape juice in a process that is called fermentation.
During the fermentation process, yeast spores will reproduce
exponentially until all of the fermentable sugars have been consumed.
The sugars are converted into alcohol and carbon dioxide during this
fermentation process.
Depending on various factors such as the strain of yeast used, the
temperature during fermentation and other concerns, the yeast can impart
different tastes to the wine.
Once all of the fermentable sugars have been consumed, the yeast will
then fall to the bottom of the container.
The wine is then removed from the container, leaving the yeast behind.
It is then transferred to a different container to mature until the time
is right for the wine to be bottled.
The description of the fermentation process has been simplified a great
deal for general comprehension.
Many
factors contribute to a good wine with time and the type of grape used
as key factors.