Winemaking
At ALBIREO we are dedicated to making wines traditionally and naturally, without chemical or mechanical processing. Our goal is to present you with all of the vibrant flavors inherent in our Estate-grown grapes.
On The Vineyard page we mention how a great deal of the work required to make quality wine actually occurs in the vineyard. A lot is involved, from selecting a favorable site for the vineyard to the manner in which the vines are trained, nurtured, and harvested. It is about getting the grapes to mature in a way that brings out their best attributes and to not change that in the winemaking process. Doing so is paramount to the concept of terrior, in which a wine reflects the geographic attributes of where the grapes are grown. Consequently, our philosophy at ALBIREO is to not make wine by the numbers, wherein wine is altered so that it conforms to a predetermined set of chemistry values. Terrior becomes somewhat meaningless when you artificially alter a wine's chemistry – the result is varietal wines often end up tasting alike regardless of their appellation of origin. We prefer to have our grapes express themselves in the true spirit of terrior, which is why we grow them organically and then refrain from fining, filtering, and chemically altering the wine. As proof of this we have always included an ingredients statement on every label.
After initially using a combination of indigenous and cultured yeasts for fermentations, we transitioned to exclusive reliance on indigenous yeasts living in the vineyard for fermentations starting in 2014. Our usage of sulfites as an antimicrobial/antioxidant was initially minimal to none, and beginning with the 2012 vintage absolutely no sulfites have been added.
It takes a lot of care to make pure wines and we pay special attention to sanitation and the barrel-ageing process. The result is truly as close as one can get to having the vineyard's grapes in your glass of wine - after a wonderful transformation!
Here's to your health: Cheers!, Skål!, Sláinte!, Prost!, Egészségedre! Santé!, Salute!, ¡Salud!
A toast to your health!
Note: Many substances and treatments are allowed in the production of wine in the U.S.
Wine can be highly processed and quite often it is. If you desire wine that is untreated and more pure look for an ingredients statement. And very importantly, get to know your winemakers; those who strive to produce wines in a natural manner are enthusiastic to tell you about it.
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