That creamy, buttery aroma you sometimes find in a bottle of Chardonnay or other wines is thanks largely to a compound called diacetyl. It's the star player released during malolactic fermentation (MLF), and whether a winemaker wants to emphasize or eliminate it is one of the biggest stylistic choices they make. Diacetyl is a temporary byproduct of the bacteria's metabolism. It is later reduced into less aromatic compounds, which is why winemakers have to move fast to capture the flavor at its peak. To get a wonderfully buttery wine, the goal is simple: make a lot of diacetyl and then immediately halt its degradation. Here are the key strategies winemakers use to ramp up diacetyl production and keep that creamy character in the bottle: Timing is Everything: Inoculate after alcoholic fermentation.Wait until the main alcoholic fermentation is finished or almost finished before adding the bacteria. Why? The yeast that did the primary fermentation and the bacteria themselves are ve

Malolactic fermentation (MLF) is crucial in winemaking for reducing acidity, enhancing flavor, and improving stability. By converting sharp malic acid into softer lactic acid, MLF softens the wine, creating a smoother, more palatable profile while also adding complexity, such as buttery or creamy notes, particularly in wines like Chardonnay. This process, which typically occurs after primary fermentation, also stabilizes the wine by preventing potential spoilage from spontaneous malic acid fermentation. MLF is common in red wines and some white wines and is often induced by inoculating the wine with a selected bacterial strain to achieve a specific texture, flavor, and overall quality of the wine. MLF is much slower and less turbulent than primary (alcoholic) fermentation; taking weeks, even months, to complete. The fermentation is complete when malic acid levels are measured below 0.1 g/L. Recommended practices for a successful MLF:  For easier acclimatization, keep the wine belo

JUNE 28, 2024 – Winners have been announced in the 17th annual Women’s International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWWSC). The competition, which took place June 10-12 in Santa Rosa, Calif., was founded on the premise that the majority of wine purchased for home consumption is bought by women. The IWWSC judging panels consist entirely of professional women in the wine and spirits industries — winemakers, distillers, marketers, buyers, sommeliers, educators and journalists.  “As always, the International Women’s Wine & Spirits Competition shined a spotlight on hundreds of deserving wines,” says Debra Del Fiorentino, owner of Wine Competitions Management & Production, which organizes and presents IWWSC. “And even though entry is open to all winemakers regardless of gender, I found it gratifying that six of this year’s sweepstakes wines were created by women. And our overall wine winner also was named Best Woman Winemaker

JaM Cellars Further Expands Bestselling Butter Brand with Two New Easy-to-Love Butter Wines

Super-popular Butter wines take over the wine aisle adding NEW Butter Sauv Blanc and Butter Pinot Noir to the Butter lineup  Napa, CA (April 23, 2024) – JaM Cellars, the […]

Lula Cellars 2020 Rescue Block Pinot Noir Takes Top Honors November 17, 2023 — Winners have been announced in the 2023 Harvest Challenge Wine Competition. After two spirited days of judging, Lula Cellars 2020 Rescue Block Pinot Noir took the top prize. It was also awarded Best Red Wine and Best of Anderson Valley AVA (Mendocino County, Calif.). Coming in at 98 points, judges praised the wine as “rich, ripe” and for its “Bing cherry,” and “hint of orange peel.”  Lula Cellars is a boutique winery located in California’s Anderson Valley. Its focus is on world-class Pinot Noirs both from its estate and across Anderson Valley, as well as other single-vineyard offerings from the greater Mendocino County. When preparing to plant their own vines, Lula owners discovered some-1,000 old vines “literally lying down, as if waiting to be rescued.” Lots of TLC later, these mystery Pinot Noir grapes have thrived. There’s no in

Our beautiful stainless steel tanks will make your shift from boring to bubbly as smooth as Chardonnay. The 2100-liter jacketed tank can hold up to 7 bars of pressure making the transition into the world of sparkling wine easier than ever. With effortless customization, you can use our tanks for any of your production needs. We offer outright purchase, rent to own, and straight rental terms on all sizes/styles of tanks. 2100L 7-bar Tank Key Features Top manway with pressure relief valve (PRV) CO2 port and tri-clamp welded to the lid Tri-clamp ports on outer shell  2” Butterfly valve Forklift channels for easy transportation How You Can Use Our Tanks Fermentation Tank Blending Tank Topping Tank Charmat Production Pét-Nat Production Sparkling Wines Cider Production Need More Information? Email Us: wine@containerlogicsrp.com Call Us: (317) 981-1324 Visit Our Website: www.containerlogicsrp.com

Introducing the NEW FlexStaves Program! Created in partnership with one of the world's leading cooperage companies, FlexStaves are bundles of a proprietary blend of 7-14 staves in various profiles designed specifically for use in Flextanks. How To Incorporate FlexStaves into Your Winemaking for a True Oak Barrel Replacement Setup: Each stave bundle pack is tied together with a stainless steel strap. Each bundle has the same level of oak to wine contact as compared to using a new 59 gallon barrel. The number of bundles used is a function of tank size and the percentage of new barrel equivalent the winemaker desires. As the staves absorb the wine, they sink into the tank over time. Bloom during extraction is normal, mixing prior to sampling is essential. Cellar Recommendations: Preform all normal barrel operations for the Flextank system. Leave no headspace. Perform regular chemical tests. So2 as needed. Strictly monitor of microbiological conditions. Rack as needed. Recommended T

Non-Binary Winemaking: The Rise of Mellow Malo in a Bid for Non-Buttery, Non-Steely Chardonnay

Winemakers are expressing Chardonnay in an entirely new way. By Kathleen Willcox  Malo + Chardonnay = J. Lo + Ben Affleck.  You either love them together or gag at the […]