An in-depth view of viticulture and vinification
Are you looking for a deeper, more detailed understanding of wine, vine growing and winemaking? We offer a course for advanced wine enthusiasts that will take you further into the details of viticulture and vinification, looking at how vines are grown and how wine is made in the cellar.
On this course you will learn about different pruning styles and their effect on the vines’ growth, and canopy management.
We will visit a number of producers using various farming methods (conventional, organic and biodynamic) to hear about the different practices involved, including the use of fertilisers, vineyard treatments, spraying, crop thinning, yield management and more.
Moving into the cellar, you may taste wine from a selection of barrels made from oak of different origins, with different toasting, by a range of coopers.
We might discuss trends, for example the current focus on wood grain and density as opposed to origin, the contrasting characteristics of acacia and cherry wood, barrel choice and its effect on the wine, and the use of oak chips as an alternative to barrels.
This course will give you a solid grounding in additives (yeasts, tannins, sulphur etc) and what they are used for, including the hot topic of natural wine and wines with no added sulphites. Chaptalisation and acidification will also be covered along with temperature control (a very important factor in modern winemaking).
It’s not all theory, either: this is your chance to try your hand at wine blending, making your own wine from (say) the various grape varieties that a Bordeaux vigneron has at his disposal. Making a well-balanced wine is certainly an art form, and this exercise will certainly give you a thorough understanding of the parameters involved.
This is an example of a custom-designed wine tour. You can find more info on our private custom-designed wine tours here.
Contact us to discuss ideas for a tailor-made wine tour.