Grape Ripening: What is the phenomenon of veraison?
The summer continues its course and changes are taking place on the farms, some of them noticeable.
The fruits continue their evolution and, with the hotter days and more sunshine, they slowly reach the point of ripening.
It is a pleasure to witness the variations that Nature operates, especially when they are striking. This is the moment when a phenomenon known as veraison takes place.. This is the change in color of the grape skin due to the ripening of the grapes..
En el caso de las tintas los racimos pasan del verde al negro, violáceo o morado característicos, y en el caso de las blancas se tornan doradas o de un verde más cálido.
En todos los casos los hollejos, cuando los frutos van alcanzando su máximo tamaño, se vuelven más finos y translúcidos y se cubren de pruin, a white powder-like wax that is a natural protector of grapes..Let us remember here that it is responsible for the color, aromas and astringency that the wines will later have..
Las variedades tintas en su mayoría tienen pulpa blanca, y es el color de los hollejos lo que dará durante la maceración, la coloración espléndida de tonos rojos, violetas y morados que luego tendrá cada vino.
Veraison is a process that takes place over approximately two weeks.
It is usual during this period to see the bunches of red grapes with some berries still green and part of them already dressed in the new color of maturity.
According to the different varieties, we have a later or earlier veraison with its own characteristics.
The Merlot variety, for example, has a fairly uneven process, so 80% of the fruit is harvested when it reaches the right point of ripeness and the rest is discarded.
At this stage, the bunches are also thinned..
Se dejan los idealmente ubicados, con brotes de vigor medio, de mejor características y envero.
Los demás se retiran y se realiza un ajuste en la producción para que se concentren taninos y polifenoles en menos granos.
As a preview of what is to come, varieties that will be used in the production of the base wine for the sparkling wines are ready to be harvested this month..
Tal es el caso de la Chenin, una cepa de greenish yellow tones with golden reflections and provides good acidity, and therefore freshness.
Summer is already ripe and the fruits of the vines are reaching their splendor.
The vineyard is full of colors and promises that will soon come true, when the days of the grape harvest arrive with their festive airs.
