How is wine made? A simple question—but the answer is far more complicated than you might believe. Many of us harbour romantic notions when it comes to the art of winemaking. It conjures images of shoeless country folk crushing barrow-loads of fresh grapes underfoot.

However, modern winemaking isn't as glamorous or romantic as our imaginations may lead us to believe. There are thousands of factors that will influence the final shape of a wine. It's fascinating to think how much thought and consideration goes into a single bottle of wine before a drop even reaches our lips. Winemakers need to make hundreds of decisions every step along the way—from grape to glass. Here at Witches Falls, our passion is sharing the magic of winemaking with the wider community. 

It's with this in mind that we're thrilled to announce the return of one of our favourite Witches Falls events—Grape to Glass. In what now feels like the very distant past (pre-COVID19), we held this event annually to introduce budding wine buffs to the ins and outs of winery work; to paint a picture of what really goes into creating wine. An awesome day out, Grape to Glass is a part-tour, part-tasting, part-educational experience. Patrons move around four stations scattered around the winery. At each station, you'll receive a new tasting sample to sip on as our winemakers talk you through a different aspect of production. This article will give a quick outline of what you'll hear about on the day. Long story short—how to turn a bunch of grapes into a delicious drop!

Viticulture: grapes begin their lives on the vine. Whether they grow and thrive is dependent on so many factors. Regional climate, the microclimate of the vineyard and surrounding areas, the makeup of the soil, rainfall levels, the suitability of one grape species to a certain environment—all these factors will influence how well a grape crop does in any given year. Factors relating to terroir—a French term that denotes environmental factors that influence a grape's expression—can also influence a wine's flavour profile post-production. 

De-stemming and pressing: Once grapes have been harvested, they need to be pressed in order to extract the juice that will be fermented into wine. In ancient times, this was often achieved through "grape treading", where bunches are trampled on by bare-footed individuals. These days, however, we use large machines to more efficiently and effectively extract grape juice. 

Fermentation, ageing, maturation: This is where the magic happens. By means of a million tiny chemical reactions, plain old grape juice will become wine! At this stage, winemakers will choose vessels for their creations to mature in—oak, stainless steel, clay, and even concrete! 

Filtering and bottling: The finishing touches—this is where we'll perform a couple more tests and alterations before the wine is bottled and ready for consumption.

If you're keen to get into the nitty-gritty of winemaking, be sure to secure a ticket for Grape to Glass on Sunday the 1st of May! Tickets are available online. It's sure to be a cracker of a day—bring a picnic rug to enjoy the sun, food, and music that will be free-flowing from 11am.

Cheers,
 Alexandra Douglas and the Witches Falls Winery Team