Hardening of the Malbec wood

During august occurs a break in the growth of the Malbec vine calls hardening (aoûtement in french, comes from "août").

The branches will then solidify by lignification and change color from green to brown and the vine will now concentrate on feeding berries until harvest.

Crazy Malbec berry !

In mid-August, the grape berries change their colour by accumulation of anthocyanins (colored pigments) coming from the vine stock, and its skin gets softer. This is called "véraison", coming from the old french "verir" that means "to ripen".

It is very fast : the berry changes its color in a few hours and it takes about ten days for a cluster.
Until maturity, sugar will continue to accumulate and acidity to decrease.