December 13, 2002
2002- Topped off barrels
Tom checked up on my wines today. They only needed minimal topping. In a couple of weeks, when I top off again, I will write detailed tasting notes. I'm looking forward to see how the wine has evolved.
Why do barrels get "topped off"?
Topping is necessary to minimize the airspace (sometimes called "headspace") in a barrel. Wine is added to containers, such as oak barrels, to replace liquid that has evaporated. This typically happens every 2-4 weeks, depending on how much wine has evaporated. The French term for this procedure is ouillage.
Topping is necessary to minimize the airspace (sometimes called "headspace") in a barrel. Wine is added to containers, such as oak barrels, to replace liquid that has evaporated. This typically happens every 2-4 weeks, depending on how much wine has evaporated. The French term for this procedure is ouillage.
Posted by Sasha on December 13, 2002 08:15 PM