Five Important Aspects of Wine Making

2. The Soil

Grapevines are shallow-rooted. Weeds and grasses growing near the grapevines will often compete for the soil space around the grapevines. Unless the right type of ground cover is planted the vines will be robbed of nutrients and water, or worse still, become exposed to the beating rays of the sun, slowly killing off the grapevines. Only certain types of ground cover should be allowed to grow around the grapevines, ones that protect the roots and don’t take all the water and fertilizer offered. Rye grass is a popular choice, as it also helps to shield the roots from the sun.
This is why vineyard soil is so dependant on man to carefully cultivate and apply herbicides when necessary.

The grapevines also grow best when the soil is light and layered with pebbles or gravel to make a proper drain field.

3. The Weather

The climate plays a large factor in the production of grapes for wine. Grapevines that have to endure heavy rainfall produce swollen fruit that results in watery wine.

Knowing which grapevine will grow well in what climate is essential to having a successful harvest. To allow the grapes to mature for long periods of time, care should be taken to avoid freezing temperatures.

The warmer the grape becomes, the more sugar that grape will produce. Table wines taste sweeter, because those grapes were exposed to warmer weather, resulting in a sweeter yield of grapes during harvest time. During processing, as the grapes dry out, the water slowly evaporates, leaving behind a sugary substance making for a better-tasting wine.

The dangers too the grapevines, besides pests is the weather. Too much rainfall or an early frost will kill off any natural sugars contained within the grapes.

Just like professional gamblers who play the odds at Las Vegas, winemakers and their associate-growers play the odds of Nature-vs.-Man. Gambling on what the right elements for their harvest will be, and plotting to bring in that harvest at the correct time.

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