🍷 Oenologist
A specialist in wine science: fermentation, analysis and quality.
An oenologist is a specialist in the science of wine. They are responsible for fermentation, analysis and the quality of the drink at every stage from must to bottle.
The word comes from the Greek "oinos", meaning wine. Oenology is the science of wine and how to make it. The oenologist checks sugar, acidity and other measures of grapes and wine in the lab. They watch fermentation and decide when to rack the wine and which to keep. They consult the winemaker and help choose the right style.
At a large winery the oenologist works in the lab with samples. They are needed to control cleanliness so that faults do not appear in the wine. Sometimes the oenologist and winemaker are the same person. The role resembles a dairy technologist's: they check the product in the lab just as a lab technician checks milk. The job calls for training in chemistry, biology or a dedicated winemaking school.
Links
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- 🍷 Oenology, 🍷 Winemaker
- Part of
- 🍷 Wine
- Wine and milk
- 🧑🔬 Dairy technologist, 🔬 Laboratory
Frequently asked questions
What does an oenologist do?
Monitors fermentation, runs analyses and is responsible for wine quality.
How is an oenologist different from a winemaker?
The oenologist is a specialist in science and analysis, while the winemaker oversees the whole process, though often it is one person.
What does the word oenologist mean?
It comes from the Greek word for wine.
Similar
🍷 Négociant · 🍷 Master of Wine · 🍷 Grape picker · 🍷 Vineyard tractor driver · 🍷 Vine nurseryman · 🍷 Wine critic