From the Vat to Vranec: How Oxygen Helps During Fermentation

Fermentation is one of the most important stages in winemaking. This is when the character of the grapes begins to change and the grape must gradually transforms into wine. Although fermentation may seem like something that simply happens on its own, there are several important steps in the winery that help guide the process and support the development of the wine.

With our Vranec, the wine remains in contact with the pomace during fermentation – the skins, seeds and other solid parts of the grapes. As fermentation progresses, the pomace rises and collects at the top of the vat, forming a layer above the liquid.

At a certain stage, we remove almost all of the wine from the vat. Rather than simply leaving it aside, we use a pump to return it over the top of the pomace.

Why do we do this?

One of the reasons is the wine's contact with air. As the wine is pumped back into the vat, it comes into contact with air and receives a certain amount of oxygen.

Oxygen has a role to play at this stage and can help support a healthy fermentation. But oxygen is not the only reason for the process.

As the wine is returned over the pomace, it wets the solid grape material again. This helps maintain contact between the liquid and the grape skins and seeds, which are important for extracting colour, aromas and other compounds from the grapes.

It is one of those steps that you may never notice when opening a finished bottle of Vranec, but it is part of the journey that leads to it.

From grapes to Vranec

Our work does not end when the grapes are harvested and brought into the winery. That is when another important stage begins, with each step playing its own role.

Fermentation is a dynamic period. The wine changes from day to day, so we follow its development and adjust our work according to what is happening inside the vat.

In the video, you can see exactly one of these moments – the wine is removed from the vat containing the pomace and then pumped back over it.

From grapes in the vineyard, through fermentation in the vat, and eventually into the bottle – Vranec has its own journey.

And we are there to follow every step of it. 🍇🍷