How Long Does Wine Take to Make? According to Denis Mackenzie

According to Denis Mackenzie, “Wine production can be a very diverse topic, with DIY kits, vineyards and private manufacturers each bringing their own unique specialities and techniques to the table. Broadly speaking – most wine can be produced in the space of a month and certain varieties can be fast tracked to be drinkable in just a couple of weeks. But how long does the wine that we are used to seeing on shelves and from local vineyards take to make?”

Fermentation is key says Denis Mackenzie

During this process, the skin of the grape will be crushed into the pulp to create a catalytic reaction that results in heat. This heat allows bacteria to grow within the formula and this triggers fermentation – or the act of creating taste and scent as far as the liquid is concerned. This process will usually take around two weeks to complete fully, but it’s worth noting that the size of any storage container that the liquid is placed in whilst fermenting can extend/reduce this duration.

After fermentation, the wine will technically be drinkable – as long as the thicker parts have been sieved out sufficiently. At this stage, many manufacturers take their product to market and this is what is known as rapid-wine production. The majority however, particularly those that specialise in higher quality wines, will leave their formula to sit for a further week at the very least.