At Fattoria di Montemaggio, every stage of winemaking is guided by respect, patience, and precision.
Among the most important steps in transforming grapes into wine is the racking — a delicate process that marks the transition from fermentation to the creation of true wine.
🍇 What Is the Racking?
Racking is the moment when the free-run wine (the liquid part) is separated from the pomace (the skins and seeds that accompanied fermentation).
In the days following the harvest, the must ferments as the natural yeasts convert sugars into alcohol and the skins release color, tannins, and aromas.
When this balance reaches perfection, the racking begins.
🕰️ A Matter of Balance and Timing
Racking requires attention and intuition — it cannot be done too early or too late.
If it’s done too soon, the wine may lack body and structure.
If it’s done too late, it may become overly tannic and harsh.
At Montemaggio, we monitor the temperature, the aromas, and the evolution of the must each day, allowing the wine itself to guide us — we listen until it tells us it’s ready.
🍷 The Free-Run Wine and the Press Wine
After racking, we obtain two distinct elements:
Free-run wine → the liquid that flows naturally from the tank. Fine, aromatic, and elegant.
Press wine → obtained by gently pressing the pomace. Richer and more structured, it is blended carefully and in moderation to add depth and complexity.
Choosing how to blend these two parts is a matter of sensitivity, taste, and experience — it defines the character of each Montemaggio wine.
🌿 Racking in an Organic Winery
Following our organic philosophy, we conduct racking with minimal intervention.
No additives, no shortcuts — just time, gravity, and care.
At Montemaggio, racking is not merely a technical step; it is the art of listening to what the wine wants to become.
✨ A Symbolic Moment
Racking is the first moment when we can truly sense the soul of the new wine.
Its perfume, its balance, its tannic texture — all begin to reveal themselves.
It is a moment of both excitement and reflection: the new wine has been born.
👉 Learn more about our organic winemaking process and philosophy at Montemaggio.com
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