Cask Seasoning and Sherry Casks:
Memorable Scents Carried by the Timeless Embrace of Wood
Cask seasoning entails aging Sherry wines in oak barrels, aiming for a harmonious balance between the wood’s warmth and the Sherry wine’s essence.
In this process, the Sherry wine infuses the wood’s inner layer with its components, transforming its natural elements and, therefore, the original wood’s color, aroma, and flavor.
Artisan Xeranthia ages high-quality Sherry wines, adding significant value to our customers’ spirits, including whiskies and other distilled beverages.
Our Sherry Casks
The barrels undergo cask seasoning with our Sherry wines for at least one year to obtain certification from the OECCA (Organismo de Evaluación de la Conformidad y Certificación Agroalimentaria [Organism for Evaluation of Conformity and Certification of Agri-food Products]) Foundation for the “Jerez-Xérès-Sherry” Denomination of Origin.
Upon shipment, certified barrels are accompanied by a card the customer can use to verify the barrel aged in our winery and access information about the traceability of the aging process
The QR code on the card provides information such as the aging batch, cooperage, oak type, barrel capacity, winery, wine type, barrel-aging duration, and shipment date.
Processes Involved in Cask Seasoning
Absorption
Transpiration
Concentration
Wood-Wine Interaction
ABSORPTION
Wooden barrels absorb liquid and retain a significant amount of wine.
TRANSPIRATION
Wood allows oxygen to enter, promoting wine micro-oxygenation and the release of water molecules.
CONCENTRATION
Part of the wine in the barrel evaporates, resulting in a concentration of aromas and flavors.
WOOD-WINE INTERACTION
Compounds responsible for wine’s aroma and flavor meld with oak elements, producing distinct aromas and flavors from the original ones.
Variables Affecting Cask Seasoning Quality
Wood Quality
Various oak porosity, toasting levels, and aromatic composition impact the process and outcome.
Time
Extended contact of the wood with Sherry wine intensifies aromas and flavors due to its penetration and interaction with wine components.
Sherry Wine Quality and Type
The initial wine quality and type (Oloroso, Palo Cortado, Cream, Pedro Ximénez) bring distinctive nuances in aroma, color, and flavor to the spirits crafted with these barrels.
Artisan Xeranthia typically uses the following wines for cask seasoning:
Oloroso
imparts roundness, intensity, nobility, and complexity and features notes of spices, smokiness, and nuts like walnuts.
Pedro Ximénez
imparts sweetness, elegance, subtlety, and nuances of raisins, caramel, figs, cocoa, and licorice, among others.
Distribuidor y proveedor de envinado
Para información o venta a granel puede contactar a través del siguiente formulario
Horario bajo cita previa
09:00 a 14:00 horas
C/ Camino Cruz del Canto, Nº3 Pta 7 11408
Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz