Wine is one of the oldest drinks in history. We know it’s been around for at least 7,000 years and probably longer. Wine can be made from any type of fruit or vegetable that ferments, but grapes are the most common source because they have a higher sugar content than most fruits. There are several ways to produce wine and each method produces slightly different tasting results. Some methods produce better quality wines than others so producers will use these methods depending on how much money they want to spend making their product.

Harvesting the grapes

In the fall, grapes are taken from the vine and brought in to be processed. Most grapes are picked by hand, but some wineries use machines to remove them from the vines.

De-stemming, crushing and pressing

Once the grapes are harvested, they are de-stemmed and crushed. The juice released is pumped into vats and allowed to ferment for anywhere from a few days to several months. When fermentation is complete, winemakers will press the wine out of its skins and seeds using a variety of methods depending on their equipment and tastes. Some wineries use presses while others use pneumatic presses that gently press only as much as necessary to extract all of the juice from each berry—a great method if you want less sediment in your glass or bottle!

Fermentation

Fermentation is the process where yeast converts sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide. Yeast is added to the juice, and fermentation takes about 7-14 days. The wine is then transferred to a new tank for aging or bottling.

Storing wine in oak barrels

Oak barrels are important for many reasons, but the most significant is that they can impart rich flavors to wine.

The main reason for this is that oak is porous and absorbs the tannins from wine as it ages. Tannins were once thought to be bitter, but we now know that they help balance out sugar in a glass of red or white wine. The longer your wine ages in an oak barrel, the more time your tannin will have to sink into its pores and impart its flavor onto your drink!

Also important to note is that oaken barrels are not just used for storing wines—they’re also great for adding vanilla notes to some beverages (like whiskey). If you’re looking for a warm experience with your favorite drink, consider pouring some into an oak barrel instead of just serving it straight from its bottle!