How is wine primarily made?

Wine is primarily made through the process of fermentation. During fermentation, yeast converts sugars present in grape juice into alcohol and carbon dioxide. This is a natural biochemical process that is crucial for the transformation of fresh grapes into wine. Different types of grapes and fermentation techniques can lead to a variety of flavors, aromas, and alcohol content within the finished wine.

Fermentation is essential because it not only creates the alcohol in the wine but also contributes to the development of complex flavors and characteristics that define different wine varieties. This process involves careful control of temperature and conditions to produce the desired outcome, making it the cornerstone of winemaking.

Other processes like distillation, filtration, and concentration are involved in the production of other alcoholic drinks or in refining wine, but they do not define the primary method of making wine itself. For example, distillation is used to create spirits, while filtration is typically a later step to clarify the wine before bottling. Concentration can refer to methods that increase the intensity of flavors but is not a primary process for making wine.