technology transfer

Technology Transfer

Changes in the materials and containers used to

store and transport wineJanine Bevege

Timeline

• 6000BC - Archeologists discover ancient jars made from clay that contained fermented juices.

• 79AD - First evidence of barrel. Pliney the Elder noted that Romans stored their wine in wooden containers held together with loops.

• 1600’s - New glass making techniques in England allow for wine to be stored properly.

• 1600’s - Monk “Dom Perignon” takes giant step from using wooden plugs to cork as a wine closure.

Timeline

• 1965 - Thomas Angove, South Australia, invents the first “Bag-in-Box” wine cask.

• 2001- New Zealand begins bottling and exporting wines with metal screw caps.

Amphora

• Chemical analysis reveals fermented fruit juice.

• Earliest evidence of use in Northern China.

Amphora chosen because….

• Impermeable

• Non-reactive

• Strong

Wine protected from spoilage by…

• A layer of olive oil…

• And a soft clay stopper.

• Stopper would be marked with contents and other info

Oak Barrels

• Traced back to the Celts during the Iron age.

• Barrels were lighter and easier to craft than amphora.

• Chance discovery that French oak was the best timber for barrels.

Oak Barrels cont…

• Oak imparts interesting aromas to the wine.

• Easy for Coopers to work.

• Less susceptible to wood diseases.

American Oak

• Popular for some time in Spain, Portugal, South Africa and Australia.

• French believe impact on wine is too strong.

• Less expensive and fewer tannins.

Barrel Making… in a nutshell

• Split wood is passed through bandsaw..

• Metal ring is used to hold the staves..

• When circle is complete a third loop is hammered…

• Staves heated to bend..

• Oak is toasted to different degrees…

• Barrel is tightened…

Then finally…

• The bung-hole is drilled into the side of the barrel.

• The outside is given its final planing before the bottom and lid are fitted.

Maturation

• Rule of thumb, the more “structure” a wine has the better it will withstand oak aging.

• Refines tannins in reds and adds tannic elements to whites.

• Batonnage - leaving wine on lees.

• Some wine evaporates - the “Angels Share”.

Bottling

What the cork are you on about?

• First recorded use in Egypt.

• First cork factory 1750 in Spain.

• Production boomed in 19th century. Now universal stopper.

• Portugal is leading supplier.

To screw or not to screw?

• Prevent risk of “Cork Taint”

• NZ leads the industry in capped wine.

• Caps are cheap.

• Maintain freshness.

• Reduce oxidation.

• But…..!

Silencing the Pop!

• Where’s the romance?

• Where’s the drama?

• Can we really be taken seriously as a wine producing country without cork?

The future…thinking inside the box

• 54% less energy than glass.

• 92% less packaging.• 80% less green house

gases.• 30-40% less trucks to

transport the same amount as bottled wine.

Crack open a cold one?

• Can is lined to prevent “tinny” taste.

• Light-weight.• Easy to consume.• Perfect for Camping/

Boating.• When you just want

one glass of bubbly!

References

Domine, A (2004). Wine: 5th Edition Completely Revised. Germany: KonemannT, Greg (2009). Wine Storage – The Early Days. Retrieved July 29, 2010, from www.snooth.com

Nivela, D (2010) Oak Wine Barrels – A Short History. Retrieved July 29, 2010, from www.ezinearticles.com

The Natural Choice (2010). Retrieved July 29, 2010, from www.corkfacts.com

Tetrapak(2010). Retrieved August 11, 2010, from www.tetrapak.com

Barokes (2010). Retrieved August 11, 2010, from www.wineinacan.com

Pics

An inside look at barrel business (1985). Retrieved August 10, 2010, from www.goosecross.com

The Coopers (2010). Retrieved August 10, 2010, from www.arcus.com

Neeley, Z.(2010) Oak Barrels, French or American?. Retrieved August 11, 2010, from www.trethefenfamilyvineyards.com

Our name is blog (2010) Retrieved August 11, 2010, from www.funnymail.co.za

Chua, J (2010) Send in the Cork. Retrievec August 11, 2010 from www.planetgreen.discover.com