🌿 Grape stem

The grape stem is the little branch that holds the berries of a bunch. It joins the berries to the vine and brings them water and nutrients. The stem consists of a main axis and thin branchlets to which the berries are attached. Botanists call it the rachis.

In winemaking the stem matters. It contains tannins, so it affects the taste of red wines. If the stem is green and unripe, it adds bitterness and a sharp, grassy taste. If it is ripe and woody, it gives structure, freshness and spicy notes.

So winemakers choose: remove the stems or keep them. A destemmer is a machine that separates the berries from the stems before fermentation. In some regions, such as Burgundy, part of the wines are made with whole bunches, that is, with the stems. White wines are usually pressed with the bunch, while red wines are more often destemmed.

The stem is part of the bunch. It should not be confused with the skins and seeds, which also affect the taste of wine. Alcohol is for adults.