Concrete Wine Fermentation Tanks

Sonoma Cast Stone, a concrete company located in the California wine country, has developed a remarkable way for fermenting wine. According to their website, "Winemakers familiar with them will tell you that egg-shaped concrete tanks assist in oxygenation of the wine, that the shape aids fluid movement for temperature and reduces pressure on the lees. The shape also aids the deposition of the lees across a larger floor area than a barrel and avoids the need for stirring. The material is porous, allowing fermenting wine to breathe without imparting the oaky flavors. Concrete is insulative while stainless is conductive, so concrete acts as a low-tech temperature control."

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