Concrete Barrels for Wine?

What's the next big thing in wine? Concrete tanks, Japanese firm hopes
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Aizawa Concrete will compare wines aged in stainless steel and concrete tanks.
​(Photo courtesy of Aizawa Concrete)

Concrete fermentation tanks are being mass-produced by a company in Hokkaido, but first the vintages must pass sommelier approval. In the prefectures of Hokkaido, Yamanashi, and Nagano, Aizawa Concrete will conduct proving tests pitting concrete wine tanks against stainless-steel tanks. Approximately 500 liters of grapes will be fermented in each of the tanks starting this fall. Laboratory tests will be conducted on the finished wine to determine its mineral content and pH value, among other things. It will be decided by professional wine tasters -- tentatively in January 2024 -- after the products have been sampled and compared.
Vinification of wine in concrete at stable temperatures has been found to be more effective than vinification in stainless steel. ​Furthermore, the material is porous on a microscopic level, and its breathability is thought to promote fermentation.

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