Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/51841
WINERY of the most expensive inputs for a cooperage, after sourcing the wood itself. So, it can be compromised by corporate ownership decisions. There are coopers who air-dry some of their wood for only six months. They use their sprinkler systems to force the equivalent of three years of rainfall over the wood. Yes, it strips out bitter, astringent tannins. But it doesn't really mature or sea- son the oak." Heinemann further said that Mark Heinemann of Demptos Napa Coo- perage says there are many standards among cooperages regarding air-drying time. Photo: Gary Werner a way that is more than just 'dry' – they become seasoned or fla- vored," he said. "But it's also one staves must be air-dried in higher- humidity regions for at least two years in order to benefit from three specific molds: aureubasidium pul- lulanas, trichoderma harzianum and trichoderma koningii. They grow naturally on the wood, and trans- form the staves chemically. "They actually increase complex polysaccharides and polyphenolic structures in the oak, and those effects are permanent," he said. "But their life cycle is about 18-22 months. So this is a point of stylis- tic differentiation among coopers. Those who shorten their air-drying time don't have the mold in contact either long enough, or at all." He added that variability in approaches to seasoning extends beyond time; they include the phys- ical layout of the rough staves in the yard. "That's another variable from Skolnik_Dir10_Jan10.qxd 10/19/09 10:04 AM Page 1 one house to the next," he said. "It's normally a 90-degree cross-lat- tice that allows airflow in between staves. But they are not all square packs. Some are stacked differently depending on where they are being dried. For example, you can maxi- mize the drying rates by putting them in octagonal configurations. Anyway, you want sun, wind and rain directly affecting every stave. So they should get moved every few months – the bottom becomes the top and so on. Everything is cycled. But once again, there are no industry standards." What does this mean to winer- NAPA COOPERAGE premier oak barrels • French • American • Hungarian Burgundy & Bordeaux styles 1050 Soscol Ferry Road Napa, CA94558 707.257.2628 fax: 707.257.1622 info@demptosusa.com WWW.VWM-ONLINE.COM SKOLNIK INDUSTRIES, INC. 4900 SOUTH KILBOURN AVENUE CHICAGO IL 60632-4593 PHONE 773.735.0700 FAX 773.735.7257 TOLL FREE 1.800.441.8780 HTTP://WINEDRUM.SKOLNIK.COM EMAIL: SALES@SKOLNIK.COM JAN - FEB 2012 VINEYARD & WINERY MANAGEMENT 39 Providing leading wine makers with stainless steel barrels of high quality, durability, and design. STAINLESS STEEL COOPERAGE