Page 27 - Grapevine May-June 2019

In The Winery

traditional wood head; the hybrid design reduces
exposure to the outside environment but does not Sonoma County’s Barrel Cooperage Since 1987
®
eliminate it. Our hybrid clients also appreciate the ReCoop Barrels
flexibility of the removable wood inserter system,
where wood to volume ratios and mixable wood Re Manufactured in the USA
profiles can be user adjusted.”
2010 Barlow Lane • Sebastopol, CA 95472
As to his wooden barrels, Voicu says that barrel French & American Barrels
lifespan is never a question, but whether empty or
full, the barrels need consistent and stable storage
conditions in environments that support wine fin-
ishing.

“The food grade stainless body of the hybrid,
when properly handled, should last well past thirty
years,” says Voicu. “The internal cylinder is free
from extra features that capture contaminants, so
cleaning is very simple once the heads and staves
are removed. The wood components of the system
can then be reused like traditional barrels, or eco-
nomically replaced after each batch.”

Voicu loves that there has been an uptick in www.recoopbarrels.com
small and amateur wine and spirit producers. He
encourages the practice with one bit of advice on 707-829-7103
barrel aging. “There are many barrel options avail- 2010 Barlow Lane • Sebastopol, CA 95472
able, and they are not all created equal. When you
reflect upon current market forces and increased
pressure upon our forests for higher quality wood
required for barrels, alternative storage systems
that match or exceed the performance of tradi-
tional vessels can make great sense and should be
considered. Especially in current conditions, when
quality stave wood is in high demand due to the
wet 2018 and increased pressure from the mills
and manufacturing processes.”

What’s Old is New Again:
ReCoop Barrels

Lori Adams is the Director Of Business
Development for ReCoop Barrels, a nationwide
provider of reconditioned oak barrels. Her custom-
ers include wineries, distillers and craft brewers.
Located in the heart of Sonoma County, she says
she has the unique advantage of easy access to
excellent barrels for the reconditioning process.

“We get barrels from partner wineries that have
proven maintenance standards and systems,” says
Adams. “Others bring in their barrels for recondi-
tioning. We perform a barrel assessment for overall
cleanliness, acceptable hydration levels, and stave

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