Categories
Vinification Intégrale®
by Tonnellerie Baron
Several experiments exist for the vinification of red grape varieties in barrels. Numerous methods have been used: upright barrels with heads removed, horizontal barrels with the grapes inserted through the bung hole, use of special barrels with modified bung holes, etc. All have given very good results but were never fully developed due to the difficulties and high cost necessary to implement them.
Thanks to OXOline® racks which allow barrels to be rotated and handled separately, Tonnellerie Baron has developed «Vinification Intégrale®» complete vinification.
This technique allows the harvested grapes to be properly placed in the barrels and all the classic vinification operations can be carried out without the expense of sending barrels out for modification, or bringing coopers in to perform specialized services.
In this way, the entire vinification process takes place in the barrel and the aromatic potential of the grapes is completely preserved, all with a very limited investment.
Since its infancy in 2002, our technique has developed strongly, has been assimilated into production protocols, and has been simplified to become a technical reference.
Many Châteaux and Wineries, from small local estates to world renown Châteaux have been able to experiment with the Vinification Intégrale® system.
Whether a small experiment or in great quantity, producers have good reasons to use the system, building a new cellar, creating a special cuvee, multiple selections within a parcel, or simply the desire to bring more richness to their blends.
Vinification Intégrale® is now a method which can be utilized in diverse winery configurations: filling the barrels by gravity after a sorting table, filling by pump, cellars without air conditioning etc…
Vinification Intégrale® today is a strong brand and a proven technique.