The Winemaking Process
|
White wines : |
||
|
The grape harvest is carried out manually. After being strictly selected on the vine, the grapes are placed whole and uncrushed into the pneumatic press. No damaging trituration takes place before pressing, which prevents oxidation of the juice and extraction of the bitter substances. The pressing is carried out slowly and gently. Fermentation begins with the indigenous yeasts and takes place at a low temperature. After fermentation, the wines are drawn off then matured on fine lees for several months. In the spring, the wines are filtered, then bottled in the course of the summer.
|
||
![]() The white wines cellar |
||
|
Red wines : |
||
|
The grape harvest is carried out manually. Strict selection to eliminate rotten berries takes place on the vine. The grapes are destemmed. Maceration and fermentation of the harvested grapes takes between 8 and 15 days depending on the year and the cuvée. Fermentation temperature does not exceed 25 °C. After pressing, the wines are matured in wooden casks or in barrels until bottled.
|
||
![]() The red wines cellar |
||
| Sparkling wine : Varieties : Crémant Blanc : Blending with several grape varieties : Pinot Blanc, Pinot Auxerrois, Chardonnay Crémant Rosé : 100 % Pinot Noir |
|
|
Crémant d'Alsace is a traditionally produced sparkling wine. The grapes are harvested when they have reached an optimal level of sugar content and acidity, in order to provide fresh wines able to produce bubbles. The harvests are carried out manually and the grapes are strictly selected on the vine. Rotten berries and withered grapes are removed. The grapes are placed whole into the pneumatic press, where gentle pressure is exerted. The best juices are selected for bubble production. These juices are fermented at a low temperature. After maturing for 3 months on fine lees, the wines are clarified, assembled and drawn. The second fermentation in the bottle, where the bubbles form, takes place at a very low temperature of 11°C in order to ensure fine, lasting bubbles. Then the bottles are placed in storage for the ageing process. During the ageing process, there is a slow exchange of flavour between the yeasts and the wine. After an ageing of 24 months for the Crémant d'Alsace Charles Baur Blanc de Blancs and 18 months for the Crémant d'Alsace Charles Baur Rosé, the bottles are shaken to allow the sediment to descend to the bottle neck, then they are opened. The sediment is then removed, without the wine leaving the bottle. A little dosage brings the own personality to the each cuvée.
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
| The disgorgement | |
| Late Harvest and Noble Grape Selection | ||
| The Charles Baur Estate only produces Late Harvest and Noble Grape Selection wines with the Gewurztraminer grape variety. Harvest is carried out for the wines in November, when the extremely mature grapes have been attacked by the fungus Botrytis Cinerea, known as “pourriture noble”(noble rot). The morning mists favour the development of this fungus. The last rays of the autumn sun, the north wind and the first cold spells of winter cause desiccation of the berries attacked by the fungus, and the juices increase in sugar and flavour. The late harvests are gathered at a natural level of 16.5 degrees. After fermentation, these wines reach an alcohol level of 13.5° with 50 g of non-fermented sugar. The Selection of Noble Grapes involves strict selection of the most overly matured berries. They are gathered at a natural level of 19 degrees. After fermentation, these wines reach an alcohol level of 13.5 to 14° with 80 to 90 g of residual sugar. These wines are only bottled after 1 year of maturing.
|
||
![]() Gewurztraminer covered with botrytis |
||