#Foodiechats learns about the winemaking process with sponsor @ColumbiaCrest
This year, #Foodiechats loved working with sponsor @ColumbiaCrest and their head winemaker @munozoca as they launched Crowdsourced Cabernet, which gave their customers the ability to join the process of winemaking!
Everyone from casual drinkers to wine aficionados have been able to join the process of winemaking, and determine how the grapes are tended, irrigated, harvested and blended through weekly votes.
So far, @ColumbiaCrest have voted in 15 different questions that guide the process for making Crowdsourced Cabernet. The #Foodiechats team has loved learning just how many different steps are in this process.
Over the last couple of months the temperature has been warmer than average, which means they are a little ahead of schedule. They’ve set the canopy architecture at this point, so the vines have grown as big as they’re going to grow. The fruit has formed, so they now we need to maintain the leaf/fruit ratio, and make the final decisions leading up to our harvest.
Right now, the Crowdsourced Cabernet wine has been "locked" which means that secondary fermentation has finished and the wine is now aging. The barrels will age for 16 months, and @munozoca will be tasting the wine about once every three months to make sure everything is progressing well!
We loved getting to see all of the photos and videos from the winemaking process. Check out the photo below, where the Crowdsourced Cabernet grapes going through the Rack & Return or "Delestage" process. The use of this cap management technique will oxygenate the juice during fermentation, producing a softer wine exhibiting more fruit character.
The videos posted by @ColumbiaCrest were so cool to watch! We really felt like we were a part of the winemaking process and loved having @munozoca explain everything!
Here are some of our favorite videos:
At the end of the process, approximately 1,000 cases of the Crowdsourced Cabernet 2014 vintage will be available for purchase in the U.S. and online. There are 40 barrels and 15 tons of grapes! We cannot wait to try it!
Thank you to @ColumbiaCrest and @munozoca for being a part of the #Foodiechats community and teaching us all about Crowdsourced Cabernet and the winemaking process!
Tweet us using the hashtag #Foodiechats and let us know your favorite wine!