At Flextank we believe Oxygen is arguably the most important ingredient in winemaking... and we treat it that way.
(We went so far as to add a hidden 'O2' in our Flextank logo! Can you spot it?)
The relationship between oxygen and any truly outstanding wine is a well-choregraphed dance. On one hand, wine needs oxygen to reach its full potential. On the other hand, too much oxygen and wine can quickly deteriorate.
So what is Oxygen Transfer/Transmission Rate (OTR) and is it manageable?
Simplistically, OTR is the rate at which oxygen diffuses through the vessel into the beverage. It is manageable based upon the vessel you choose.
Using Flextanks with French or American Oak FlexStaves, winemakers can achieve an almost indistinguishable élevage to that provided by traditional barrel aging... at a much lower cost!
Almost every Flextank comes in your choice of Maturation Weight (2-year barrel) or Heavyweight (neutral barrel) and are superior to stainless steel, concrete tanks, and especially IBCs in that they naturally integrate oxygen into the wine at the same rate as the average barrel. Click here to view an independant study on Flextank vs. a 2-Year Oak Barrel.
Better yet... the OTR provided by Flextanks remains consistent, both short and long term, year after year.
Getting the right amount of oxygen along with the tannins, lactones, vanillin, and furanic compounds from FlexStaves is the key to creating wines of high quality aging potential without the skyrocketing cost of barrels.
What do you believe is the most important 'ingredient' in winemaking? (click your answer below)