Handcrafted wine, which also goes by the names artisanal or boutique wine, refers to wines that are produced on a smaller scale with a significant amount of manual labor and a focus on attention to detail. The term “handcrafted” emphasizes the hands-on approach taken by winemakers in every stage of their wine production process.
Key characteristics of handcrafted wine
Small Production
Handcrafted wines are typically produced in limited quantities of 5,000 cases or less, compared to larger commercial wineries. Smaller productions allow for more meticulous care and individual attention to each batch of grapes. For handcrafted wines, 5,000 is still considered a lot, many producers create such limited quantities of 1,000 cases or less.
Manual Labor
Winemakers involved in handcrafted wines usually rely on traditional and considerably labor-intensive methods. Include hand-harvesting grapes, hand-sorting, hand pruning and manual punch-downs during fermentation. While looking through small production winery Instagram accounts, often you’ll spot the winemaker barefoot in the bin stomping down.
Artisanal Techniques
Winemakers often employ traditional techniques that require a deep understanding of the craft. This can include natural fermentation, whole-cluster pressing, and other hands-on practices.
Attention to Detail
Each step of the winemaking process is vigilantly monitored, from vineyard management and grape selection to fermentation, aging, and bottling. This meticulous approach aims to produce wines of exceptional quality while also being unique.
Unique Flavors and Profiles
Due to a focused approach on individual vineyards and the winemaker’s personal touch, handcrafted wines often showcase distinct and unique flavor profiles that reflect the specific characteristics of the grapes and terroir.
Limited Distribution
Handcrafted wines are usually produced in smaller quantities, which makes them more exclusive and sometimes harder to find. They may be available directly from the winery or through select retailers. Check out some of the fine handcraft wine producers currently on Liquillo.
Emphasis on Tradition and Terroir
Handcrafted winemaking often places a strong emphasis on preserving traditional winemaking practices and allowing the terroir to shine through in the final product.
While handcrafted wines are usually associated with smaller, independent wineries, larger wineries can also produce wines with a similar level of attention to detail and craftsmanship. The key distinction is the level of personal involvement and artisanal approach taken by the winemaker.
