Knowing and Making Wine

Were you aware that knowing and making wine qualifies as an 'ology'? Enology is the science that deals with wine and wine making, as well as being a useful piece of information for crossword enthusiasts.

For wine making enthusiasts, knowing and making wine is more than a hobby, it is a passion and there follows a list of the 10 most important things revealed by enologists on knowing and making wine.

1. Preparation is everything for those gathering information about knowing and making wine. Equipment must be cleaned and also sterilized. Good quality concentrate or base ingredients must be sourced that show no sign of damage or over ripeness.

2. An airlock is a vital piece of equipment because it allows the gases, that are a by product of fermentation, to be released whilst keeping airborne bacteria out of the wine. This is a key piece of equipment for those keen on knowing and making wine.

3. Knowing and making wine information must include reference to the process of fermentation. Sometimes fermentation does not start - possibly because yeast has not been added or even because sterilizer fluid left in the fermenter has killed the yeast. Sometimes fermentation completes too early because insufficient sugar is present.

4. Wine haze is caused by particles in the wine refusing to settle. Some wines can take as long as 60 years to clear. For wines that refuse to clear there are three options: to treat for pectin, to add finings or to filter.

5. Wine that tastes like vinegar can not be saved and should be discarded. It is not the recipe that has produced the taste it is a bacterium. Part of the skills of knowing and making wine is to recognize when to give up on a batch.

6. If a wine lacks a bouquet a few drops of lactic acid added will improve the situation by bringing out the characteristic smell.

7. You may be interested in knowing and making wine stronger - this can be achieved by adding more sugar during the fermentation process.

8. Never use cheap corks unless the wine is to be drunk immediately. Buy the best quality corks you can to prevent leakage and seepage.

9. When discovering more about knowing and making wine you will learn that white wines mature more quickly than reds simply because they contain less tannin.

10. A final knowing and making wine tip - never fill a wine glass to the brim when serving. Allow space for the wine to mingle with the air and to allow the drinkers nose to fully appreciate the bouquet.