ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:12891
 | | 02/05/2005 5:11 PM |
| winemakers or anyone else...
from the point when the wine enters the barrel, does one expect to have less wine than they planned due to evaporation? i know something can happen to different barrels and some might might not turn out right. what i was wondering is if you end up with less juice from a barrel then you put in, not counting late night barrel tasting raids  | | | |
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Budman
Master of Wine
Posts:11841
| | 02/05/2005 5:12 PM |
| | AI - I think many winemakers top off their barrels as needed. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:12891
| | 02/05/2005 5:16 PM |
| | because it can evaporate or just from sampling? | | | |
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Budman
Master of Wine
Posts:11841
| | 02/05/2005 5:19 PM |
| | Probably both. | | | |
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DJ Hombre
Napa Valley, California
Barrel Filler
Posts:1366
| | 02/05/2005 6:25 PM |
| | The barrels absorb a good amount of juice when you first fill. After that you keep topping off every few weeks or so. | | | |
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Budman
Master of Wine
Posts:11841
| | 02/05/2005 6:29 PM |
| | DJ - what is most commonly used for 'topping wine'? Is it simply the 'leftover' barrel of the same juice? | | | |
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Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts:13672
| | 02/05/2005 6:35 PM |
| Slight drift here....
When they make balsamic vinegar, they store it in barrels too. First really big barrels at the first floor of a building. Then, to a slightly smaller barrel on the next floor up. And this process is repeated for as long as possible, which is how you get 50 year old and 100 year old balsamico. No topping off typically, just moved to a smaller barrel.
back to wine. | |
www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
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DJ Hombre
Napa Valley, California
Barrel Filler
Posts:1366
| | 02/05/2005 6:41 PM |
| | It's usually press wine that's put into a reserved barrel soley for the purpose of topping. | | | |
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Budman
Master of Wine
Posts:11841
| | 02/05/2005 9:01 PM |
| | Thanks, DJ. | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:11169
| | 02/05/2005 9:06 PM |
| | Not one mention of George Costanza. | | | |
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Winetex
Austin, Texas
Master of Wine
Posts:10618
| | 02/05/2005 9:15 PM |
| I was afraid that no one else would think about the Seinfeld episode.
Back to your question | | | |
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love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts:12386
| | 02/05/2005 9:16 PM |
| Ahhh, thank g-d this is about wine. | | | |
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David Sullivan
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2276
| | 02/05/2005 10:25 PM |
| Quote:
Not one mention of George Costanza.
Sounds like a personal problem. | | | |
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Bob Bressler
Napa Valley
Wine Lover
Posts:4821
| | 02/05/2005 11:19 PM |
| after the initial fill, it is evaporation. putting in a humidity control system usually pays for itself right away.
it is for this reason that the rule of thumb for wine/grapes is 60 cases/ton for red and 65 for whites (less time for evaporation). | | | |
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ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:12891
| | 02/06/2005 3:40 AM |
| Quote:
Not one mention of George Costanza.
i was hoping that someone would catch that
bob and dj,
thanks for the knowledge. | | | |
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Sacred Cow
Wine Thief
Posts:2764
| | 02/06/2005 3:49 AM |
| I also thought of the Seinfeld episode when I saw the title. Guess I am at least somewhat caught up with popular culture.
MIke | | | |
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wino4ever
Grape Fermenter
Posts:578
| | 02/06/2005 3:44 PM |
| Quote:
I also thought of the Seinfeld episode when I saw the title.
Also guilty.
At least I learned something wine related reading through it. | | | |
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David Niederauer
Los Gatos, CA
Master Sommelier
Posts:15713
| | 02/06/2005 7:20 PM |
| The wine evaporates out of the barrel is called "the angel's share".
I love that terminology. Gives me goosebumps. I really don't know why but it does. Maybe just looking forward in some 40 years from now. | | | |
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Budman
Master of Wine
Posts:11841
| | 02/06/2005 7:40 PM |
| davidn... I have a few bottles of that!  | | | |
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NorCalVinoLover
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2200
| | 02/07/2005 5:04 PM |
| Quote:
The wine evaporates out of the barrel is called "the angel's share".
I love that terminology. Gives me goosebumps. I really don't know why but it does. Maybe just looking forward in some 40 years from now.
Did you read what you posted? "the angel's share" Do you really think you'll ever see any of that?
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