Maturation and aging of wine
The aging follow the maturation. The wine is poured in wooden barrels and it ages slowly. Despite other materials like steel and fiberglass, the wood allow a micro-oxygenation of the wine. The bottles has to have a good preparation. Possible flaws in the preparation of the barrel can damage the quality of the wine. Micro-organisms could attack the product causing illness and damages. In Italy, all some years ago, people used great wooden barrels for important red wines like Brunello and Barolo. Then, France spread the use of “barrique”. They are barrels, generally made of durmast, with the capacity of 225 l.
When the period of aging is considered ideal, it is possible to bottle. In the bottle, the wine will continue to enrich of aromas.
Right conditions to preserve the bottles of wine
Too much heat will damage the volatile substances of the wine, too cold could increase the volume of the wines with a low alcoholic volume, causing the expulsion of the cork. The light shouldn’t be direct because if a bottle is hit directly by the sunlight, it can develop garlic notes.
Not all the wines can be aged
The vine variety where the grapes come from is the main factor that that determinate the aging of wine. Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Primitivo, Corvina, Aglianico, Primitivo and Negramaro are just some examples of vineries used for the production of aging wines. Their grapes are well structured to release many anthocyanin and polyphenols that determine the structure of the wine. The grapes, obviously, have to be worked with specific techniques to obtain their best. The most important thing is to preserve the wine from bacteria attacks and illness. Keeping it healthy is the ideal requirement. At the core of a good aging there is the condition of the year. If the weather conditions have been bad, they can compromise the integrity of the grapes and their quality.
Colour and notes evolve with the aging
When the taste, that at the beginning, is tough and sour the aging soften it.
Fonti immagini: wikimedia.org