Estello : Sparking Wine

The traditional method involves making a first fermentation of the wine in the vat followed by a second, slow fermentation in the bottle after the addition of a fermentation mix.

These are the different stages of preparation.

• Extraction
  The blends are put together and bottled. A fermentation mix is added to guarantee the amount of sugar required to produce the fizz. A temporary cork is inserted.
  
• Cultivation
  The bottles are placed horizontally in the cellar at a constant temperature of 10-12°C in order to start the second fermentation.
• Making the fizz
  The second fermentation must happen very slowly to guarantee a constant stream of fine bubbles.
• Inverting the bottles
  After a minimum 9 months in the cellars, the bottles are placed in racks, top down, in preparation for activating the contents.
• Activation
  Using a quick, circular motion and a measured movement, each bottle is turned little by little whilst remaining top down, resulting in the sediment collecting in the neck ready for extraction.
• Inspection
  The position of the sediment and the clarity of the wine are examined by inspecting each bottle by backlight.
• Decanting
  The sediment is expelled from the neck of the bottle using a quick and precise jerking movement, which prevents the fizz and the wine from escaping. The modern way is to freeze the neck of the bottle before opening it.
• Mixture
  A secret ingredient, peculiar to each vineyard, is added to the wine in order to increase or decrease sweetness. The proportions start from ‘extra brut’ (between 0 and 6g per litre) and end at ‘doux’ (sweet - more than 55g per litre).
• Inserting the cork
  A key stage when making sparkling wines, the corking process must be a perfectly hermetically sealed procedure in order to guarantee that the product remains well preserved. Proper corks are used.
• Muzzling the bottle
  In order to keep the cork in the bottle despite the carbon dioxide pressure, a wire muzzle and a cap are fixed on top.
• Shaking
  After closing, the bottle is shaken vigorously to make sure that the contents are well mixed.
• Dressing the bottle
  As the last stage, the bottle is kitted out to complete its clothing: main label, foil, neck collar, etc.

Estello White and Rosé:
Sparkling Wine