Come up with names for your lots and make them comprehensive and easily recognizable. What: If you are getting ready to make your first wine, be aware that down the line, you’ll wish that you had everything all nicely labeled with proper traceability. ![]() ![]() To make your logs efficient you must choose what’s important for you to record.Īs with most activities you set out to do, it is vital to answer the four Ws (and the one H): There is no such thing as the one perfect log that suits all types of winemakers. Problem-solving: Did you screw up a bit? Having more control over the variables will not only reduce the chances of making mistakes, but if you happen to face some challenges due to an error, it will be much easier for you to pinpoint where things went wrong and approach the problem to solve it efficiently. ![]() Without proper records, it would be impossible to measure where you are and to keep track of your progress. In terms of recordkeeping, it is the “M,” or measurable, that is absolutely vital. Improve and grow: Management consultants say that the key to improvement is setting adequate targets or SMART goals (the acronym is short for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound). It will, for sure, give you a much more insightful understanding of your wines. Own your wines: In the long run, once you’ve gone through a couple of fermentations, you will be able to own your game and trace those repetitive patterns. Having the information altogether, and somewhere handy, will save you tons of time during those busy days. Time-saving: In well-kept winemaking records, the log can help you keep the timing of each step straight. Here are some of the biggest benefits I see to keeping sound records throughout the winemaking process:ĭecision-making: Understanding how much of which additives you’ve put in (and when), and being able to come back to it anytime later will help you to make smarter decisions. As the saying goes if it’s not recorded, it didn’t happen. Which yeast did you use? Did you add malolactic bacteria? Did you adjust the acid? What were the fermentation temperatures? Benefits of Keeping a Winemaking LogĪ well-kept winemaking log can help you to arrive at smarter decisions and save tons of time. When, in a couple of years from now, you want to replicate that fantastic 2020 vintage wine that has continued to evolve into a fantastic vintage in the bottle, you will be thrilled you kept those notes. Keeping a very detailed log of each wine you make will allow you to track your wine’s daily progress from the vineyard to the bottle, and it is a great reference tool for the next time you want to make a similar wine. Only by logging in dates, treatments, wine analysis, and tasting notes so we have them to review when needed do we learn what works, what doesn’t, and what we need to improve. It is wise to keep good records during the winemaking process to maximize control over your wines. In winemaking, there is only so much that can be controlled - the weather influences the grapes, a cold cellar slows down fermentation, or a random spoilage yeast invades a promising wine. If you prepare well in advance, you will no doubt still be busy, but you will save yourself tons of time, especially when it comes to decision making. Whether you are a first-timer or a senior cellar rat, you have probably heard that “timing is everything” in winemaking. No matter your level of winemaking expertise, this article includes everything you need to step up your recordkeeping game for your next batch. These decisions include choosing the perfect picking time, buying of all sorts of dry supplies (yeast, potassium metabisulphite, nutrients, etc.), and making sure that all of your equipment is up and running. ![]() For winemakers, harvest time is a period of intense activity, and essential decisions and preparations need to happen well in advance of crushing day for things to go smoothly.
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