Vintech Pacific has just introduced the patented, Australian barrel refurbishing technology under the brand Phoenix - Diverse Barrrel Solutions. Through this technology, the life of a used barrel can be extended for up to three years. The Phoenix process is centred on computer scanning of each barrel followed by laser-guided cutting to remove the contaminated wood inside the barrel.
To ensure the contaminated oak is totally removed, each stave is scanned separately to build an accurate three -dimensional picture of the inside surface.
Following this digital map, a computer-controlled routing tool then cuts up to 8mm off the inside of the barrel to reveal clean oak.
Analysis has shown that Phoenix’s precision cutting removes all wine contaminants to expose clean wood while retaining most of the original French oak flavour characteristics.
So effective is the process that barrels previously containing red wine can be used for the fermentation and maturation of white wines.
After each barrel is checked, infrared toasting to the wine makers specification is applied using another new technology process which removes the risk of variation and blistering and allows the winemakers a choice of toasting styles.
At the end of the process, the barrels are recrozed so that new, imported, toasted oak heads can be fitted which are then custom-branded to meet individual wineries requirement.
Over the last 12 months, 26 selected New Zealand wineries provided Vintech Pacific with used barrels to try out the new process as part of a trial programme, and the positive results led the company to go ahead with the development of a specialist Phoenix workshop in Marlborough.
