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| Grape growing, winemaking and wine maturation |
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| Preparing the site |
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 In all likelihood, it is only the very curious among us who think to wonder how the wine in their glass got there in the first place, but it is an interesting story. Of course, it is not necessary to understand the theory of fermentation in order to enjoy a glass of Champagne, but it will help us to explain to our customers why the products that we sell taste so good.
Good wine is made from good grapes, and one of the important first steps in the production of quality fruit is the selection of the proper vineyard site. The different elements of each site that affect wine style and quality are referred to collectively as “terroir”, and these influences are dealt with in Chapter Nine.
Once the site has been chosen, it is necessary to clear it and prepare the soil by plowing it, adding fertilizer, and cutting the trenches in which the vines will be planted. The vineyard is laid out at this time, including the orientation of the rows, the amount of space between the rows and between the vines. These decisions are very important, since they are very difficult to change, and they influence whether a vineyard can be worked by machine or must be worked by hand.
One important choice that is made is the density of planting. This can vary anywhere from less than 400 vines per acre to 4,000. It is often thought that in cool climate Old World regions, increased density leads to increased concentration, because the competition stresses the vines, leading them to produce more concentrated grapes. In many warm climate New World regions, however, the soil is sufficiently rich to support higher densities without causing stress. In this case, higher densities can lead to dilute and unripe wines as well as increased problems with rot and mildew.
It is also necessary during planting to lay the plumbing and electrical lines if necessary, to pave additional roads and provide drainage as the vineyards are being planted. Total cost for planting is near $50,000/acre in California, but this figure can vary from country to country and region to region.
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Wine Regions of the World
