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Making a wine barrel
Every wine barrel is made out of dozens of individual bent planks of wood. These are called staves. They are made out of oak grown in the United States, and only the best wood is selected (by hand). The quality of the wood used, determines the quality of the finished product.
After being inspected and selected, the staves are given to a cooper for assembly. At this essential stage of the manufacturing process, the handiwork begins. The staves are assembled inside a metal hoop that serves as the assembly jig. This operation, so spectacular in its speed and precision, is what the cooper calls the "mise en rose" or "raising the barrel."
If you have a new wine barrel, or if you are reusing one that has been stored a long time, it needs to be swelled with water before use. This process seals it so that liquids do not leak out. However, some loss will still occur due to evaporation. Even when kept in a humid environment it must be topped occasionally with more wine.
The barrels also have a
The first time it is used, the wine should be in contact with the wood for around six to nine months. On its second and third uses it can be used for a longer time. This is because less oak flavor is extracted from a barrel each time it is used. You will usually get flavor for about three to four years. Of course, this depends on how the barrel is used. When the barrel no longer gives flavor, you can use an oak alternative, such as our Infusion Spiral, or the barrel can be used for aging and storage.
The aging time also depends upon the size of the wine barrel. A smaller barrel will have more wine in contact with the wood, which would decrease time. The best judge on how long the wine barrel should be used is based on how it tastes. Every use will vary, be sure to taste it often.
The quality of a wines flavor is affected heavily by tannins. Tannins are what gives most wines their
Each and every wine barrel is special and unique in its own right. After considering all things, the winemaking process is also special and unique with each and every new barrel. Toast, tannins, aging, each and every factor plays its role.
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