Wine Aging Technology: Fundamental Role Of Wood Barrels

Article Summary

This article aims to assess the aging techniques of wines, especially French and American wines, by using wooden barrels. The process of ageing wines is specially used to upgrade and exalt the quality of wines. Various extra properties add to wines in this process and economically empower the stakeholders. The usage of barrels separates the suspended materials, assists in the oxygenation of wines, elevates the colouring, improves mouth feel, and produces a specific aroma of wines that makes them unique and significant. In this way, the usage of wooden barrels is not like containers; it is more than that. The ageing of wines has remained a historical practice in most of the civilizations of the globe. Chemically, the ageing process of wines comprises two phases, i.e., the oxidative and reductive phases. During both these processes, various factors like oxygen, temperature, light availability, the position of the container, and provided time play a crucial role. The oxidative aging phase usually takes place in wooden barrels. The wooden barrels play an influential role in delivering these entities to wines and help to add wood compounds in wines for specific aromas. Various Oak species are used conventionally in barrel manufacture to make improved quality wine. However, the reduction of the ageing phase occurs in bottles. Different new techniques and approaches have been introduced in the recent past as an alternative to barrel ageing. The primary purpose of these alternatives is to make ageing feasible, economical and sanitised. For this reason, multiple types of wood and wood chips are being experimented with. However, most researches show that wooden barrels are still the most favourable and used technology for the ageing of wines. They act as active vessels for wine ageing that enhance the physical, chemical, and sensory characteristics of wines. Owing to the barrel ageing of wines, the international market keeps a considerable share of wine trade around trade. Also, it contributes to fulfilling the aesthetic, nutritional, and cultural needs of humans.

Personal Review Of The Article

I selected this article due to its economic significance and the everlasting need for wines around the globe. Aged wines share an immense proportion of the international market and have an influence on culture, traditions, and economic dimensions. Keep in mind that the quality and price of wine depend upon the ageing of the wines, especially French red wines and American wines. In 2019, the worldwide expert of wine reached 10 × 103 million litres, contributing to massive foreign exchange around the globe. The need to know the ageing process lies with the involvement of considerable stakeholders in such massive exports around the world. It is worth noting that the wine trade around the globe has contributed to the colossal population strata and improved their lives. So, to learn new dimensions of hospitality with a crunch of a substantial economic wave, such articles and learning are of great pleasure. Historically, wooden barrels have been used for the ageing process, and they guarantee the quality of wines. In this context, the stated article is of great significance to learning the ageing process of wines and their cultural impact in increased usage around the globe. The specific aroma and colour depend upon the wooden barrels in addition to multiple varieties of grapes used for the said purpose. The particular aroma development in wines is due to wood compounds from these barrels, like cellulose, acids, sugars, and phenols. Other than the viticulturists, wine-producing experts, wine merchants, and traders, the tourism and hoteling industry pays its existence to the ageing process and wines. The high quality and aged wines are used in the tourism industry around the world. The stakeholders of this industry consider wines to be pillars of this big business globally. However, various flaws in barrel ageing lead to elevated production costs, time duration, and shelf life issues. But considering multiple other techniques, wooden barrel ageing is the best way to provide quality and specific aroma production of wines.

Reference

Carpena, M., Pereira, A. G., Prieto, M. A., & Simal-Gandara, J. (2020). Wine aging technology: Fundamental role of wood barrels. Foods, 9(9), 1160. Retrieved from https:// https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/9/9/1160/ht