Winemaker Wisdom: Bottling

We recently completed most of our bottling for 2013. We bottled our 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2011 Syrah, 2012 Pinot Noir, 2012 Pinot Noir Rosé, 2012 Chardonnay, 2012 Sauvignon Blanc.

There are a few factors which influence the timing of our bottling. The main reason being that we want to preserve freshness in the wines. Too long in barrel and we run the risk of oxidizing the wines and give it more of a sherry character. Too little, we don’t give the wine the chance to fully develop. With our vineyard sourcing we achieve this delicate balance with 18 months aging for CS and SY, 12 months for PN, PN Rosé, CH, SB.  Another factor is the logistics of winemaking. We need to free up space, tanks and barrels for the new harvest.

Wines require time to gain complexity, soften tannins, gain weight on the palate as well as naturally clarify. For Mira wines, this process can take up to 24 months depending on the variety and the vineyard source. The next step is for the wines to gain more complexity through bottle age before being released to the market. We take pride in our craftsmanship and are delighted to share with you our results.

– Gustavo Gonzalez, Mira Winemaker

Click here to watch our 2012 Pinot Noir Rosé being bottled and click here to watch our 2012 Chardonnay!