How do you maintain wine barrels?
Barrels should be assessed every 4-6 weeks to ensure sufficient gas is still present, or the process should be repeated. After more than one month’s continual dry storage, barrels should be rinsed and then filled with cold water and left for 48 hours to reswell/hydrate, checked for leaks, then drained.
Should I oil a wine barrel?
Any oil finish (Teak Oil, Tung Oil Linseed Oil, etc.) will work well as long as you apply it periodically. The rule of thumb I go by is when water stops beading up on the woods surface, the wood starts to gray or when it feels dry to the touch, then it is time for a fresh coat.
How do you care for a decorative wine barrel?
All you need to do is wash the barrel out with hot water until all the deposits from the wine have dissolved and run out of it. This process may take multiple rinses to remove everything. Allowing the barrel to soak overnight in hot water can help breakdown tartrate deposits.
Do wine barrels need to be sealed?
A leaking wine barrel will not work when it comes to wine or whiskey maturation, and should therefore be waterproofed as securely as possible. Ensure you do everything you can to seal off the barrel so that it can be used successfully.
How do I keep my wine barrel from drying out?
When storing wine barrels between uses you will want to fill it with a water/sulfite solution. You can use either potassium metabisulfite or sodium metabisulfite. This will keep the barrel nice and tight as well as free from spoilage. You will also want to add citric acid to the water.
How do you swell a wine barrel?
Swelling a New Barrel For a new barrel, it is common to swell it before use to fill existing leaks. To do this, fill the barrel full of hot water and keep it full until any leaks stop. This can take anywhere from an hour to a week, depending on the size of your barrel.
Can wine barrels stay outside?
You will be able to enjoy your purchase for years, both inside and outside. Some points of interest to bear in mind: 1) Never let the barrel dry out.
Should I Varnish a wine barrel?
More expert users prefer none varnished as allowing the barrel to breathe aids in the aging process.
How do you rehydrate a barrel?
Rehydrating New Barrels (Use either cold or hot water) Fill the barrel completely with filtered, chlorine-free cold water. Rehydrate by allowing the barrel to stand for up to (but no longer than) 48 hours. Examine the barrel for leaks.
How to properly maintain wine barrels?
How to properly maintain wine barrels new and previously used? New barrels are ready to fill immediately upon receipt. If you will not be filling the barrel immediately, be sure to keep it in a cool place. Avoid storing empty barrels in excessively moist places as this may allow mold to develop.
What are the ideal conditions for barrel storage?
What are the ideal conditions for barrel storage? In general, the best way to store a barrel is for it to remain full of wine with 25-60ppm of free SO2 (depending on the pH of your wine), at normal cellar temperature (55F), and at the proper humidity (65%-75%) at all times. The SO2 protects the barrel (and the wine) from spoilage organisms.
What is the ideal humidity for wine barrels?
Humidity at around 65%-75% is ideal because if the percentage is lower then the wine will evaporate out of the barrel too quickly, and if it is higher then this starts to promote the growth of spoilage organisms.
How do I clean the barrels?
When the barrels are brand new and have recently been received from the cooper the practice of using hot water can often be sufficient on its own. However it is wise to follow the hot water method by filling the barrel with cold water and allowing it to stand for over 24 hours.