🍷 Cellar master
The person in charge of the cellar who oversees ageing and blends.
The cellar master is the key person in a wine cellar. He or she watches over ageing, the barrels and how the wine develops over time. In the French tradition the post is called maître de chai.
The work is to decide when to rack the wine, how long to age it and which barrels to use. The cellar master tastes the wine in different months and takes decisions on blends. A blend is a mix of wines from different sites, varieties or years. By choosing proportions, the master reaches the desired taste, which should be recognisable year after year.
In the cellar the master works alongside others: coopers, winemakers, lab staff. The role can be compared with a cheesemaker, who likewise watches cheese mature in the cellar. The profession is tied to wine in general and to the wine cellar itself. At small wineries the winemaker often does this job.
Links
- Where they work
- 🍷 Wine cellar
- Works with
- 🍷 Blend
- Part of
- 🍷 Wine
- Wine and milk
- 🧑🍳 Cheesemaker
Frequently asked questions
Who is a cellar master?
The chief specialist in a wine cellar, responsible for ageing, barrels and blends.
What is a cellar master called in French?
Maître de chai.
What does a cellar master do?
Watches the maturing wine, and decides when to rack it and how to make the blend.
Similar
🍷 Winemaker · 🍷 Négociant · 🍷 Master of Wine · 🍷 Grape picker · 🍷 Vineyard tractor driver · 🍷 Vine nurseryman