Possibly one of the curiosities that wine lovers ask themselves the most: What happens inside the barrel during and after fermentation? It sounds complicated, but it all depends on the parenting techniques used.
The battonage is a practice that consists of suspending the lees, i.e. the solid matter formed during fermentation (dead yeast and other grape substances), which is deposited at the bottom of the barrel. To do this, the wine is stirred with a stick called a “stick” (from the French bâton).
In this way, the lees can provide unique characteristics to the wine: increased volume and smoothness in the mouth, as well as varietal character; greater stability against oxidation, protection against future precipitation and clouding, and aging favored by slower and more progressive aging.
Battonage process
Associated with white wines, such as Barcolobo’s Verdejo, since they are those that are fermented in barrels, thebattonage process is made every day from the end of alcoholic fermentation. After a few weeks, and according to the winemaker’s indications, this practice begins to be done less frequently.
It is important to note that the winemaking process a wine undergoes is purely chemical and, by nature, hundreds of things will always happen. Therefore, the battonage technique helps to “define” or “correct” this natural development towards the balance or the point that the winemaker is looking for; thus including the organoleptic characteristics.
To understand a little more, in this process, the following appear 3 types of compoundsThe following are the most important ones: the reductive or thiol type, which are those that act when the lees are removed and make the wine decrease in intensity; the terpenic ones, which are those that enhance the flavor, maintaining the touch of fruit; and the fermentative ones, which are those that help to change the aroma.
Thanks to this practice, terpenic compounds, which are the most optimal for this process, can be enhanced. While in the case of thiols and fermentals it would be advisable to work with a separate tank.