When Does a Winemaker’s Creativity Begin?

An interesting question was asked yesterday. When does a winemaker’s creativity begin? Given the premise that wine is made in the vineyard, does a winemaker make a difference. Two wines made from the same rows of grapes from the same vineyard having the same data (brix, pH, TA), can end up totally different depending on what the winemaker does.

Perhaps a winemaker’s creativity begins with his first decision. A winemaker has many decisions to make before the bottle of wine is ready to be consumed. Many of these decisions will impact the aroma, taste and finish of the wine. One such decision is the yeast to use in the fermenter. I had to make this decision earlier this fall. My wine used NT50 yeast. My decision was based on what I researched about this yeast compared to the others we could use. I liked the manufacturer’s claims that it “produces well-rounded red wines with structured tannins and good color stability.” Another group using the same grapes from the same vineyards used a different yeast. Right befor racking into barrels we tasted the two wines. They were different. Choosing the yeast is just one of the decisions that may make a difference in the taste of the finished wine.

As I learn about all the things a winemaker can do to the wine, I am amazed and certainly see the impact on the final product. Perhaps the winemaker should be added to the list of elements known as terroir.