Well today I watched a very interesting show on Wine Barrels and how they are made in Cognac France! Wow so much to share! I did a little bit more research and learned that Cognac is actually made from Grapes (I will blog about that process soon) How about that??? Who knew???
The process of making wine barrels is quite the art! It is as important as the grapes! When French Oak Trees are harvested to make Wine Barrels the Trees are 150 years old plus. This is to make sure they are tough and water tight. Cognac is no only a town in France, but also a brand (company) of that produces $1,000 plus wine barrels.
Once all the wood is harvested only the best quality tree are left outside; they are showered frequently to keep them wet. When they are kept wet it keeps away fungus and bugs.
When the Barrel Makers feels the wood is ready it is sent for trimming. They are cut along the grain, they use a very technical Stag Saw (computerized precision) now the wood is milled again into specific sizes.
The wood will now be stacked on pallets/drying racks – this process is almost 2 1/2 years drying naturally in the sun.
After the wood is thoroughly dried it is shaved to actually start building the barrel. The wood is hard and dry so in order to make it more flexible it is given a steam bath. The steamer relaxes the outside of the wood and the fibers will now stretch. Each pallets spends about 5 minutes in the steam bath.
Now the barrel moves to the Toasting phase. The barrel is now baked in a double cone closure to ensure heating is even. If a barrel is toasted at different temperatures and for different lengths of time they will lend different tastes and scents to the wine that goes in the barrel. I thought this was very interested. So when Wine Makers order their barrels they have specifications/instructions for the Barrel Makers. Toasting is also a computerized.
When barrels arrive to the finishing area they are inspected for blisters. Now the top and bottom must be added. The milled oak circles must fit in nice and snug. It is important that it is fitted perfect so it won’t leak. They can not use glue or nails to secure the tops and bottoms of the barrels this would have an effect on the flavor.
Now the barrel goes for the Rock and Roll test… it is filled with water and put on a machine that shakes it and spins it to make sure it is water tight; if they hold they will install the new steel loops. A computerized laser etcher will no add the label for the for company who ordered the barrels… I guess now we understand why these barrels cost $1,000 plus…
Do you know what flavor scent french oak lends to a wine???
Most of the information is from a segament on How it’s made?
 
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