Like pop factory made wine is far removed from the hands on traditional way of making wine. Artisans use modern innovations, they are not living in the dark ages, however the best producers (in my professional opinion) use methods that take longer ~ slow wine. Hand-picking grapes, closely monitoring the process, identifying faults not covering them up.
You might think all the flavors in wine come naturally from the grapes and the fermentation process, but sometimes winemakers give nature a little nudge. Here’s how:
Mega Purple: The Color Boost
This isn’t just a catchy name—it’s a powerful grape concentrate that some winemakers use to make red wines look richer and darker. If you’ve ever seen a wine that’s so dark it almost looks like ink, Mega Purple might be the reason. It also adds a bit of sweetness, which can make the wine taste smoother.
Fruit and Spice Additions
Some wines have bold flavors like cherry, vanilla, or even pepper. While these can naturally develop from the grape variety or the aging process, some cheaper wines get a flavor boost from added extracts or concentrates. It’s a bit like adding vanilla to a cake batter—it enhances the overall taste.
- Vanilla or Oak Extract: To mimic barrel aging without actually using barrels.
- Berry Concentrates: To make fruitier wines even more flavorful.
- Herbal or Spice Extracts: To give a hint of pepper or earthy tones.
Acid and Sugar Adjustments
Depending on the weather, some grapes might end up too sweet or too sour. To balance this out, winemakers might add acids (like tartaric acid) or sugars to make the wine taste more consistent.
- Acid Adjustments: To brighten a flat-tasting wine.
- Sweetness Boost: To mask bitterness or make the wine more appealing.
Natural vs. Artificial Flavors
Some wines labeled as “natural” promise not to use any artificial additives, but that doesn’t mean they’re entirely flavor-free. Natural wines might still use flavor-boosting techniques, like blending different grape varieties to create a more complex taste.
Why Add Flavors?
For some winemakers, it’s all about meeting consumer expectations. If people expect a bold, fruity red wine, they’ll add a little something to make sure it tastes just right. In higher-quality wines, these adjustments are usually minimal or non-existent, but in mass-produced wines, flavor tweaking is pretty common.
Next time you sip a wine and notice how bold or fruity it tastes, remember that it might have had a little help from some flavor magic behind the scenes!