Page 18 - Grapevine JanFeb 2022

In The Winery

The Ins & Outs of Barrel Care,

Inspection, and Tracking

By: Gerald Dlubala
A lot of love, time, and work goes into a common source of spoilage and contamination, and
winemaker’s final product. But there’s
those with cracks emanating from them can be an
also a lot of money and equity tied up
in the barrels that hold, age, and nurture that unwanted source of excessive oxidation.
wine. Barrel inspections help protect your prod- Storage and Use:
uct and livelihood by revealing potential leakage NEW BARRELS
areas in the barrel along with any cracks, gaps,
or over-toasting, which can directly or indirectly New, empty barrels can be stored indefinitely
contribute to spoilage, foul aromas, or an undesir- when regularly maintained and kept in cool, humid
able taste in your wine. The stave and head joints conditions to lessen the possibility of shrinkage,
should be narrow and tight, with solidly fastened preferably in the 55°F (13°C) range with 65-75%
hoops and a tapered bunghole. Bung holes are a humidity. Prepping for storage includes a thorough,

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