Out in the vineyards, and from crush pads to the cellars, tanks and barrels are vital to the winemaking process and play a multitude of critical roles in shaping the final creation. Tanks and containers are typically classified by the material they are made of and the purpose they serve. The commonly used materials for tanks and containers in the wine industry are wood, plastic, stainless steel and concrete. The functionality of these containers can be specialized, such as rotary fermenters and tanks for mixing or bottling, generally for storage or multipurpose. In the early 1960’s, Chateau Haut Brion, just outside Bordeaux in France, was one of the first wineries in the world to install stainless tanks and launched the stainless steel trend. Stainless steel tanks are very efficient at controlling the fermentation temperature by having a chamber surrounding the tank that holds coolant and external controls to set the desired temperature. During the winemaking process, temperature control is critical, particularly the cooling that is required during fermentations, and cold stabilization for tartrate discharges. Insulation of stainless steel tanks, using blankets, jackets, foam or panels is often used to mimic the thermal characteristics of wood or concrete. Stainless steel tanks are also efficient at preventing oxidation and monitoring fermentation. Stainless steel has many roles in vineyard tanks and stainless steel wine barrels. This is likely due to its great versatility and durability. There may a higher cost associated with stainless steel, but vineyards managers and winemakers have recognized its value in every step of the growing and wine making process. From water storage at the vineyard, to fermenting tanks and stainless steel storage barrels, each type of tank, whether it is plastic, stainless or concrete, has its own attributes. The makers of these tanks are listening to the winemaking industry to innovate and meet their needs. The capabilities of the different tanks are providing greater control of temperature and flavor, and are providing winemakers more freedom of their craft to develop extraordinary wine.
See the complete line of Skolnik Stainless Steel Wine Barrels.