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ogicsub · 1 year

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Does the Shape Of the Wine Glass Matter at a Wine Tasting OKC?

Attending a wine tasting OKC is an excellent way to try local wines and broaden your horizons. Many elements affect your tasting experience, from your perfume to the way you swirl your glass. As such, the shape of your wine glass is an often-forgotten but important detail that can make a difference in the taste and smell of the wine.

Why Does the Shape Of a Wine Glass Matter?

Wine glasses come in various shapes and sizes. Although some glasses are shaped purely for aesthetic purposes, many are designed to enhance your wine tasting experience on the Oklahoma wine trails.

The anatomy of a wine glass typically consists of three parts: the foot, the stem, and the bowl. Aromas are released as oxygen reaches the wine in the bowl. As they release, the aromas collect in the space between the wine and the edge of the bowl. The shape of your glass affects the density and position of the aroma vapor at the bowl’s opening, significantly adding to the flavor of your wine.

Different Shapes of Wine Glasses

Whether you are tasting wines at a travel Oklahoma winery or in the comfort of your own home, it is recommended to know which glasses are best for enjoying certain wines to make for a great tasting experience.

White Wines

Full-bodied white wines are often served in wider glasses, as they taste better when slightly oxidized. Most lighter-bodied white wines are best served in smaller bowled glasses, allowing less oxygen to reach the wine. This allows the wine to maintain its crisp, light flavors.

Red Wines

At a wine tasting OKC, red wines are often served in glasses with rounded bowls and wide openings. The oxygen exposure helps soften the intense tannins prominent in most red wines. There are different glasses for light, medium, and full-bodied reds:

Large Bordeaux glass — These glasses are designed to help smooth the tannins in full-bodied, bold red wines.

“Standard” red wine glass — These are best for medium-to-full-bodied reds with spicy notes or high alcohol content.

Burgundy glass — The large bowl is best for collecting the delicious aromas of lighter-bodied, delicate red wines.

Sparkling Wines

Sparkling wines like Champagne are often served in tall, narrow flutes. These glasses are meant to be held by the stem to prevent body heat from warming the wine. Likewise, the narrow shape keeps oxygen from diminishing the delicious bubbles.

Discover Local Wines on the Oklahoma Wine Trails

If you are looking to discover local wines, you are sure to find a favorite when you visit a travel Oklahoma winery. At the OGIC, our members throughout Oklahoma serve delicious local wines and provide exceptional experiences for you and your loved ones. Contact us today for more information.

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oklahomawines · 4 years

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Oklahoma has a long history of vineyards and winemaking dating back to the 19th century. The first known vineyard opened in 1898. Social movements and changing laws in the early 20th century did affect the industry. Click here for more info! https://discoveroklahomawines.com/learn/

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ogicsub · 1 year

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WHAT IS A CRUSH PAD FOR AN OKLAHOMA WINERY NEAR I-40?

If you tour an Oklahoma winery near I-40, you may see some of the equipment used to produce delicious wines, such as tanks, pumps, and barrels. One area that has a vital role in winemaking is a “crush pad,” as it is where the process of transforming grapes into wine begins.

There are five primary stages of winemaking: (1) harvesting, (2) crushing and pressing, (3) fermentation, (4) clarification, and (5) aging and bottling. As referenced in its name, crush pads are used during the second step of the process.

The History of Crush Pads

For thousands of years, winemakers would manually crush grapes to prepare the juice for fermentation. When considering this process, the first image to come to mind is likely that of people stomping on grapes in barrels or large vats. The area or platform where this took place became known as a “crush pad.”

Modern Crush Pads at an Oklahoma Winery Near I-35

Due to many advancements in winemaking technology, crushing grapes into pulp and juice is no longer an entirely manual process. Current crush pads can be understood as the part of an Oklahoma winery near I-35 designated for the equipment used to process harvested grapes into wine.

How Are the Grapes Crushed?

After the grapes are harvested, everything is brought to the crush pad. After unwanted materials (like leaves) are removed and the best grape clusters are selected, winemakers move the clusters into a machine to be crushed. There are various types of machinery used for this process; for example, a winery may have a:

Crusher-destemmer: the equipment crushes the grapes before removing them from the stem.

Destemmer-crusher: the machine removes the stems from the grapes before crushing them.

Destemmer-only: the equipment only removes stems, with a different method used for crushing.

These machines vary in size and price. They may also be manually operated or fully motorized. This allows each Oklahoma winery to select the ideal equipment for its needs.

What Happens After the Grapes are Crushed?

Once the grapes are crushed, the resulting mix of juice, skins, and seeds is referred to as a “must.” From this point, the winemaking process slightly diverges based on the type of wine that the Oklahoma winery is making:

White wine: the must is pressed before fermentation, often shortly after it is crushed. This process separates the juice from all solids, meaning that the wine’s flavor and color are unaffected by the skins and seeds.

Red wine: the must is fermented as-is, allowing the wine to gain its strong color, flavor, and tannins from the seeds and skins. The must is pressed after fermentation, removing all solids to leave a smooth red wine.

After fermentation and pressing (in either order), the next step is clarification. At this time, leftover pulp, stems, and skins become suspended in the wine, along with any unwanted proteins, tannins, and other phenolic compounds. Once these unwanted materials are filtered out, the red or white wine is bottled and aged until it is ready to be enjoyed.

Interested in Visiting an Oklahoma Winery Near I-40?

While the crush pad is an important part of any winery that produces wine, it is only one of the many key parts of the business. To build a true appreciation of the hard work that goes into creating delicious, high-quality wines, consider scheduling a winery tour that brings you through the entire winemaking process.

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ogicsub · 1 year

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BEGINNERS GUIDE TO GROWING GRAPES IN OKLAHOMA

If you want to start a vineyard or produce your own wines, you should learn about growing grapes in Oklahoma. As is the case when cultivating any crop, there is much to consider to ensure the success of your grape-growing endeavor. Here are a few steps that can help when starting a vineyard.

6 Essential Steps for Growing Grapes in Oklahoma

Step 1: Select a Planting Site

If you frequently go on wine tours or travel Oklahoma vineyards, you may have noticed that these places share some similarities regarding their vineyard setup. That is because selecting the right location is essential to ensure the long-term success of a vineyard. Before you start planting anything in your planned vineyard, consider the:

Climate. What is the average temperature in each season? How often does it rain?

Soil. How quickly does the soil drain? Can this affect moisture around the root zone?

Slope. Is there a slope in the area? How will this impact the sunlight and drainage?

Step 2: Select a Grape Variety

Many grape varieties thrive in Oklahoma vineyards near me, so there is sure to be a perfect option for your vineyard. If you want to produce red wine, consider growing:

Cabernet Sauvignon.

Chambourcin.

Merlot.

Sangiovese.

Shiraz/Syrah.

Tempranillo.

Zinfandel.

If your vineyard will primarily produce grapes for white wines, you may want to grow:

Chardonnay.

Muscat Blanc.

Riesling.

Seyval Blanc.

Traminette.

Vignoles.

In addition to these varieties, a range of hybrid grapes grow well in Oklahoma’s climate.

Step 3: Preparing for Planting

Once you know what grapes to plant and where to put them, it is time to begin preparing your vineyard. This step may begin around a year before you start planting, as you must prepare the area by:

Cultivating the soil.

Killing weeds and reducing pests.

Making changes based on soil tests.

Marking your rows.

This process takes a lot of work, but that effort will pay off.

Step 4: Planting the Grapes

After the area is prepared, you can begin planting your grapes at the end of winter or early spring (depending on the grape variety and the area’s climate). Once you have planted the bare-rooted plants and have tied them to a training stake, you should keep them watered, weeded, and free from pests and diseases.

Depending on the grape variety, your intended use of the grapes, and the area’s slope, you may need to construct a trellis for a support system. However, this can often wait until the summer or fall, once the grapevines have grown larger. In addition to making your harvest easier, a trellis can help keep the vines away from small animals.

Step 5: Pruning and Maintenance

Once you start noticing growth on your vines, it can be tempting to let them grow freely until it is time to harvest. However, you will still need to wait to enjoy the rewards of your efforts; grapes can only grow on vines that are at least one year old. Once you reach that point, you will focus on regular maintenance.

Pruning will ensure that new growth develops. The vines will be dormant from December through March, making it the perfect time to prune them. Prime your plants for new growth by:

Cutting each vine back to one or two canes.

Trimming each cane until it has between two and eight buds.

Removing all but the two strongest shoots when growth resumes.

Occasionally pruning back more when needed.

At this point, only the main trunks and year-old growth should remain. Do not hesitate at this step; most places you see when visiting “Oklahoma vineyards near me” cut off more of the vines than they leave.

Of course, when growing grapes in Oklahoma, maintenance goes beyond pruning. Make sure that your plants are well-watered and free from weeds. Watch out for disease and pests, and have a plan in place for what to do if damage occurs. Also, consider fertilizing your grapevines.

Step 6: Harvest and Post-Harvest

The grapes will begin to ripen in July; this period is known as “Veraison.” At this step, keep focusing on maintenance, but start preparing for the harvest season. This may occur in late summer or early fall, depending on your grape variety. After your grapes have been harvested, the vines will go dormant, allowing you to repeat the process once it is time to prune your plants again.

Interested in Visiting Oklahoma Vineyards Near Me?

Whether you are starting your own business or want to enjoy homemade wines from plants grown in your backyard, starting a vineyard is a fun and fulfilling experience. To learn more about growing grapes in our state or to find exciting places to visit when you travel Oklahoma vineyards, get in touch with OGIC.

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