Page 19 - Grapevine JanFeb 2022

In The WineryIn The Winery

clean water rinse and complete drainage before overnight swelling process doesn’t work, the barrel
performing a Sulfur purge and bung insertion. In is likely unfit for use.
addition, routine checks on Sulfur levels must occur
to make sure the levels remain consistent. Used Barrels Need Different Care

Before filling with wine, the stored barrels must Increasingly, used barrels are only water rinsed
be swelled to seal any minor cracks that could before being used for wine storage because the
cause leaks leading to oxidation and potential mold previous contents can be a desired addition to the
growth. If Sulfur purging was used in the storage flavor profile of the wine. Used barrels can also be
process, release the gas and give the barrel an addi- rinsed several times and stored empty after being
tional warm water rinse before swelling. Fill the purged with Sulfur. Sulfur levels must be checked
barrel within 20% of its total volume using clean, monthly on the stored barrels and replenished as
hot water. Insert the bung and flip and rotate the needed. The stored barrels will shrink over time
barrel looking for signs of leakage or agitate the and need to be swelled again before filling. An
barrel for accelerated swelling until there are no alternative to the traditional swelling practices
more signs of any leakage. Thoroughly drain the includes filing the barrels with a Sulfur-citric hold-
barrel and let it dry and cool down before use. But ing solution that promotes sterility and helps pro-
if leaks are still evident, an overnight swell may be mote swelling and shrinkage control. The downside
needed, which entails filling the barrel and soaking to using a Sulfur citric solution is that it strips the
it overnight. Any leaks should swell shut and stop natural wood extract flavor and the desirable oak
leaking after a few hours or at the most after a flavor properties. So it is not recommended for use
couple of days. Never let a long soak go more than on new barrels or those less than a year old. The
36 hours without changing the water inside due to Sulfur citric solution strips natural wood extract fla-
the potential for mold growth. When the leaking vor. The use of holding solutions requires thorough
stops, drain water with the bung side down, and rinsing procedures before a winemaker can reuse
after complete drainage, it is ready for use. If an the barrel.

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