The Harvest
Grapes are not harvested all at once as other fruits are. We harvest the grapes when they reach the ideal acid/sugar balance and flavour for the specific varietal. Knowing when to harvest is a combination of experience and instinct, a knowledge that is learned and passed from one generation to the next.

De-Stemming
As soon as the grapes arrive at our winery, they are gently de-stemmed and most are not crushed. By separating the grapes from the stems and maintaining whole berries, we can better control the amount of tannins in our wines.

Pressing
We slowly press the grapes to separate the juice from the skins, seeds, and pulp. For white wines, we immediately separate the juice from the skins; for red wines, juice stays in contact with skins so the skins can impart colour, tannins or flavors.

Alcohol Fermentation
Fermentation is the natural process of converting sugar to alcohol. Our Winemakers add yeast to the juice to start the process, and the juice is fermented in either stainless steel tanks or oak barrels, depending upon the desired flavour.

Malolactic Fermentation
Our winemakers may also choose to induce a secondary stage of malolactic fermentation while crafting many of our wines such as Chardonnay. This process converts malic acid (a tart acid, similar to that found in apples) to lactic acid (a soft acid, like that found in milk), thereby softening the wine. A byproduct of this process is an aroma or flavour described as buttery.

Aging
Wine is aged in either stainless steel tanks to preserve the natural fruit flavours of the grape or in oak barrels that add an oaky aroma and flavour commonly described as toasty, vanilla, or spicy. Many wines are aged in stainless steel tanks, leaving a crisp fruit character. However, many Gallo Family Vineyards wines are aged in oak barrels, leading to wines which exhibit more structure and hints of vanilla.

Fining and Filtration
Prior to bottling, some wines are filtered or fined to remove sediment. This process can help give wines greater longevity in the bottle. 

Bottling and Binning
After bottling, a vintage of wine can be stored up to several years to allow it to naturally soften prior to its release. However at Gallo Family Vineyards. our wines have been aged prior to release, so our consumers can enjoy them immediately or at a later time.