When they say winemaking is 1% art, 2% science and 97% cleaning they're not wrong..
Heres a couple of recent photos. Following the racking of our 2008 Pinot Noir to tank, in preparation for bottling in April, all barrels had to be cleaned. This is to get rid of the lees and any tartrate build-up accumulated from the last 10 months. Our barrel washer, as seen in the top photo, gives each barrel a hot wash. The barrel washer is a great piece of equipment which introduces the hot water via a Diesel powered pressure washer, sprays it all around the inside and then sucks it back out via the green hose. So good, so quick.
.
Then in the bottom photo each barrel then gets a sulphur ring burnt inside to protect the empty barrel against bugs and bacteria. From the photo you can just make out the flame in the barrel. The barrels are then stored for the next couple of months as they wait for arrival the 2009 Pinot Noir in May/June.
No comments:
Post a Comment