From Vines to Wines, 5th Edition The Complete Guide to Growing Grapes and Making Your Own Wine

by Cox, Jeff; Mondavi, Tim

• ISBN13: 9781612124384
• ISBN10: 1612124380
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2015-03-10
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC

Summary

From planting vines to savoring the finished product, Jeff Cox covers every aspect of growing flawless grapes and making extraordinary wine. Fully illustrated instructions show you how to choose and prepare a vineyard site; build trellising systems; select, plant, prune, and harvest the right grapes for your climate; press, ferment, and bottle wine; and judge wine for clarity, color, aroma, and taste. With information on making sparkling wines, ice wines, port-style wines, and more, this comprehensive guide is an essential resource for every winemaker. 

Author Biography

Jeff Cox is the author of 21 books on food, wine, and gardening, including Gardening with Biochar, From Vines to Wines, and Cellaring Wine. He was the managing editor of Organic Gardening for many years, and currently serves as a contributing editor to The Tasting Panel, SOMM Journal, Clever Root, and Horticulture magazines, and writes a monthly garden feature for the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. He has been the host of the PBS television series Your Organic Garden and Grow It! on HGTV. Cox lives in Sonoma County in California.

Table of Contents

List of Tables
Acknowledgments
Foreword by Tim Mondavi
Preface

Introduction: Making Wine

Part 1: Selecting the Vines
The Secrets of Good Wine
The Origin of Classic Wine Grapes
A Self-Education in Wine
Vinifera in the United States

Part 2: Growing the Grapes
Parts of the Grapevine
How Much Wine to Make
Finding a Favorable Site
Grape Trellises
Constructing a Trellis
Ordering and Planting Grapestock
Managing Vineyard Rows and Aisles
Irrigation
Pruning in the First Two Years
Establishing a Training System
Pruning Mature Vines
Cluster Thinning
Training Systems Illustrated
Pest Control Strategies
Fertilization
Tending Grape Crops
Determining Ripeness
Harvesting

Part 3: Making the Wine
Crush Immediately after Picking
Decisions of the First Few Days
The Primary Fermentation
The Secondary Fermentation
The First Racking
Cold Stabilization
Using Barrels
Further Racking and Aging
Wine Disorders
Filtering
Fining
Blending
Final Measurements before Bottling
Bottling
Corking
Labeling
Making Sparkling Wine
Cellaring the Wine
Wine Accoutrements
Sensory Evaluation of Wine

Appendix 1. The Home Winemaker's Record Book
Appendix 2. For More Information
Appendix 3. Sources of Supplies
Appendix 4. Sources of Grapevines
Appendix 5. Grape Pests and Diseases
Index