Wines with Different Barrel Tasting
Oenology team tasting some of our wines
How Does Barrel Aging Influence the Wines at Torelló?
These days at Torelló, we are conducting tastings of the wines aging in barrels in our winery. Once we have the 2020 vintage wines, we transfer them to barrels either for fermentation or to begin their aging process in wood. At Torelló, we work with different types of barrels to give the wines distinct aromas and aging profiles. Each type of wood leaves a unique imprint on the wine, shaping its final characteristics.
What Types of Barrels Are Used for Wine Aging?
At Torelló, we primarily use three types of barrels:
- French oak (Allier, Vosges, central France, and Bertranges): Provides a delicate and subtle aging process due to its high wood density and fine pores. Ideal for long aging.
- Acacia barrels: More porous than American oak but less tannic. They impart citrus aromas and are used exclusively for white wine (Xarel·lo).
- American oak: Used only in small quantities. It is more tannic but also more aromatic, with larger pores. It adds notes of coconut and vanilla, among others.
How Does Barrel Toasting Affect the flavour of Wine?
The roasting time and temperature used in barrel construction significantly impact the wine’s final characteristics. Each winery selects its preferred type of toasting based on its desired wine style.
At Torelló, we primarily use light and medium toasted barrels, which enhance the wine’s body and volume without overshadowing its primary floral and fruity aromas.
The oenology team has analysed the barrel ageing process
Which Torelló Wines Are Aged in Barrels?
Several of our D.O. Penedès wines go through a barrel aging process to enhance their complexity and structure:
- Crisalys (100% Xarel·lo): A portion of the wine is aged in French oak barrels for 4 to 6 months.
- Gran Crisalys (Xarel·lo and chardonnay): The Xarel·lo is aged in second- and third-year barrels, while the chardonnay is aged in new barrels for approximately four months.
- Raimonda (aged red wine): Requires a longer aging period, spending 18 months in wood, which enriches it with balsamic and spicy notes such as tobacco, clove, and vanilla.
How Do We Select the Best Barrels for Each Wine?
Currently, we are carefully monitoring how the different grape varieties are evolving in their respective barrels and analysing the nuances that time and wood contribute to each wine. Through our tastings, we carefully select the barrels that best complement each wine, shaping the final blends that we will release to the market in the coming months.
