The other option for maturation is a stainless steel tank. This option is becoming increasingly popular as they are inert, economical because they do not need to be replaced after so many years in the rotation and they are very easy to maintain. To compensate for the lack of oak in the stainless steel tanks, some producers supplement the process by adding oak chips to the juice shooting for the "oak effect."
Racking is the process of moving the juice from one barrel to another - providing two key benefits:
- 1. The juice is separated from the bottom layer of sediment, which could negatively impact the final flavor.
- 2. The wine undergoes a bit of aeration to open up flavors and allow for further development.
