Our Winemaking Process
At Medeiros, we believe that exceptional wine begins with dedication in the vineyard. As the old winemaking adage goes, "Great wine is made in the vineyard" – without exceptional grapes, it's impossible to produce exceptional wine. This philosophy guides every decision we make throughout the growing season and winemaking process.
The Vineyard Cycle
Our sustainable approach to viticulture follows the natural rhythm of the seasons, with each stage requiring specific attention and care to ensure the highest quality grapes for our wines.
Winter Pruning
The annual cycle begins in the winter months with pruning, a critical process that shapes the coming vintage. Our experienced vineyard team carefully prunes each vine by hand, determining the number of buds that will remain and setting the stage for balanced growth and yield. This meticulous work requires deep knowledge of each variety and its specific needs.
Spring Awakening
As temperatures rise in spring, the vines awaken from dormancy in a process called "bud break." This delicate period requires vigilant monitoring to protect the young shoots from late frosts. Soon after, inflorescence appears – the formation of flower clusters that will eventually become grape bunches.
Flowering and Fruit Set
Typically occurring in May, flowering is a critical phase when the potential grape bunches form flowers that, when pollinated, will develop into grapes. Weather conditions during this brief window significantly impact the harvest size, with ideal conditions leading to successful "fruit set" – the transformation from flowers to young berries.
Summer Growth and Veraison
Throughout the summer, we manage canopy growth to ensure optimal sun exposure and air circulation. Our team performs green harvesting when necessary, removing excess bunches to concentrate the vine's energy into fewer, higher-quality grapes.
Veraison marks the beginning of ripening, when grapes change color and begin accumulating sugars while developing flavor compounds. This stage initiates the countdown to harvest, with our winemaking team regularly testing sugar levels, acidity, and flavor development to determine the perfect picking time.
Harvest
The culmination of the year's work occurs during harvest, typically between August and October depending on the variety and weather conditions. At Medeiros, we harvest exclusively by hand, selecting only perfectly ripe bunches and transporting them quickly to the winery in small boxes to prevent crushing and premature oxidation.
This labor-intensive approach ensures that only the highest quality grapes enter our winemaking process, setting the foundation for exceptional wines.
From Grape to Wine
Reception and Sorting
Upon arrival at our winery, the grapes undergo a second sorting to remove any imperfect berries. For white wines, we gently press whole clusters to minimize contact with skins and seeds. For reds, we typically destem the grapes before fermentation, though some varieties benefit from partial whole-cluster inclusion to add complexity.
Fermentation
White wines ferment in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to preserve fresh fruit characteristics and aromatic compounds. For reds, fermentation occurs in either stainless steel or concrete vessels, with carefully managed temperature to extract optimal color, tannin, and flavor.
During red wine fermentation, we perform regular "punch-downs" or "pump-overs" to ensure even extraction and oxygenation. The duration and intensity of these processes are tailored to each variety and intended wine style.
Pressing and Settling
After fermentation, white wines settle before being racked off their lees into aging vessels. For reds, the fermented must is gently pressed in our low-capacity pneumatic press to extract the remaining wine while avoiding harsh tannins from seeds.
Maturation
Depending on the wine's style and potential, maturation may occur in stainless steel, concrete, or French oak barrels. Our premium wines benefit from extended aging in French oak, which imparts subtle flavors and allows for slow oxygen exchange that softens tannins and develops complexity.
During this period, our winemaking team regularly tastes each barrel, monitoring development and making necessary adjustments. This patient approach allows each wine to reveal its natural personality and reach its full potential.
Bottling and Further Aging
When a wine has reached its optimal expression, we bottle it under ideal conditions to preserve its character. Many of our premium wines continue to evolve in bottle for months or years before release, developing additional complexity and integration.
The entire journey from vineyard to bottle can span from 18 months for our fresher styles to 10–15 years for our most age-worthy wines, reflecting our commitment to quality over expedience.
Sustainable Practices
Throughout our winemaking process, we maintain our commitment to sustainability through:
- Water Conservation
Recycling and minimizing water usage in the winery
- Energy Efficiency
Utilizing gravity flow where possible to reduce energy consumption
- Waste Management
Composting grape pomace for vineyard fertilization
- Minimal Intervention
Using indigenous yeasts when possible and minimizing additives
These practices not only protect our environment but also allow for the purest expression of our terroir in every bottle.
Experience Our Process
The best way to understand our winemaking philosophy is to see it firsthand. We invite you to visit our estate for a behind-the-scenes tour of our vineyard and winery, followed by a guided tasting of our wines.