u r r o c e s s
Sterna Winery Process
h e A r t f a k i n g F i n e W
The art of fine winemaking blends tradition and innovation, starting with selecting the best grapes and applying meticulous techniques throughout fermentation and aging.
Each step is carefully executed to balance flavours and aromas,
resulting in a refined and memorable wine that reflects its unique terroir.
"Crafting fine wine is an art where patience, passion, and nature converge to create a symphony of flavours that tell the story of the land and the hands that nurtured it."
h e A r t f a k i n g F i n e W
At Sterna Winery, our winemaking process is a blend of tradition and modern technology, ensuring each bottle captures the essence of our Cypriot terroir. We start by selecting the finest grapes from our meticulously maintained vineyards. The grapes are then carefully sorted and crushed before undergoing fermentation in temperature-controlled tanks to preserve their unique flavors. After fermentation, the wine is aged in carefully chosen barrels or tanks, allowing it to develop its character and complexity. Finally, we rigorously taste and blend our wines to achieve the perfect balance before bottling. This process ensures that every bottle of Sterna wine offers a refined and authentic expression of Cyprus’s rich winemaking heritage.
e r m e n t a i o
The crushed grapes are transferred to temperature-controlled fermentation tanks, where the winemaking magic truly begins. These tanks are meticulously monitored to ensure optimal fermentation conditions, maintaining precise temperature ranges critical for preserving the delicate balance of flavors and aromas. Carefully chosen yeasts, selected for their ability to enhance the grape varieties’ natural characteristics, are added.
During fermentation, yeasts convert the grape juice sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide, releasing heat in the process. By controlling the temperature, we manage the fermentation speed and influence the wine’s final taste and bouquet. This controlled environment nurtures the development of complex flavour compounds and aromatic esters that define the wine’s character. The process is closely watched by our skilled winemakers, ensuring each batch reaches its full potential, resulting in a wine that is balanced, flavourful, and true to the vineyard’s terroir.
g i n g
After fermentation, the wine is aged in selected barrels or tanks, a crucial phase that allows the wine to develop its complexity and character. The choice between barrels and tanks is deliberate, based on the desired style and characteristics of the final wine. Oak barrels, for instance, can impart subtle flavours of vanilla, spice, and toast, while also allowing for gentle oxidation that softens the wine’s tannins and enhances its depth.
Stainless steel tanks, on the other hand, preserve the wine’s fresh and fruity qualities, maintaining a cleaner and more vibrant profile. The duration of the aging process can vary significantly, from several months to several years, depending on the wine type. Red wines often benefit from longer aging periods, which help integrate their robust tannins and develop complex flavour profiles. White wines might be aged for a shorter time to preserve their crispness and aromatic intensity.
Throughout the aging process, the wine is regularly monitored and tasted by our skilled winemakers to ensure it is progressing as desired. They may perform techniques such as racking, which involves moving the wine from one barrel to another to clarify it and enhance its flavour. The careful management of this stage is vital to achieving the perfect balance and structure in the final product, resulting in wines that are rich, nuanced, and true to their varietal and terroir characteristics.
l e n d i n g a n T a s t i n g
Once aged, the wine undergoes rigorous tasting and blending to achieve the desired profile. This critical step involves our experienced winemakers carefully sampling each barrel or tank to assess its individual characteristics and potential contributions to the final blend. They evaluate the wine’s color, aroma, flavour, and mouthfeel, ensuring that every element is harmonious and meets our exacting standards.
The blending process is both an art and a science, requiring a deep understanding of how different wine components interact. Winemakers may blend wines from different grape varieties, vineyards, or aging vessels to create a balanced and complex final product. This meticulous process allows us to highlight the strengths of each component and craft a wine that is greater than the sum of its parts.
Quality control is paramount at this stage. Each blend is compared against previous vintages to ensure consistency and to uphold the reputation for excellence that Sterna Winery is known for. The goal is to produce a wine that not only reflects the unique terroir and vintage characteristics but also delivers a consistent and memorable experience for our customers.
Finally, after achieving the perfect blend, the wine is prepared for bottling. This involves careful filtration and stabilization to preserve its integrity and ensure that it remains pristine until it reaches your glass. The entire process, from grape to bottle, is designed to maintain the high quality and consistency that distinguish Sterna Winery’s exceptional wines.
o t t l i n g
The final step involves bottling the wine under optimal conditions to preserve its quality and ensure it reaches consumers at its best. The wine is gently filtered and transferred to bottles in a controlled environment, protecting it from exposure to oxygen or contaminants that could affect its flavor or stability. Each bottle is carefully sealed, often with high-quality corks or screw caps that maintain the wine’s freshness and allow it to age gracefully over time.
Once sealed, the bottles are labeled with precision, reflecting the craftsmanship and attention to detail that goes into every stage of production. The labels not only provide essential information about the wine’s origin, variety, and vintage but also symbolize the heritage and pride of Sterna Winery. Before being packed for distribution, the bottles undergo a final inspection to ensure they meet our stringent quality standards.
Now fully prepared, the wine is ready to be enjoyed, whether it’s sipped immediately or allowed to age further in a cellar. Each bottle embodies the journey from vineyard to glass, delivering the rich flavours and aromas that make Sterna Winery’s wines truly exceptional.
From hand-harvesting to final bottling, every stage of our winemaking process at Sterna Winery is crafted with precision and passion,
resulting in wines that truly reflect the spirit of Cyprus.