Oak barrel overflowing as weather gets warmer
 

We have a barrique of pinot, vintage March 2006, and approaching our
southern summer the temperature is rising. We have a solid silicon
bung on the barrel, and the option of a waterlock (hasn't been through
malo yet). The problem is, as we get a warm spell of three or four
days, the ambient temperature is rising and the wine is expanding; when
we take off the bung the wine spills out. Then when the weather cools
down for a few days, the wine contracts again and we get ullage. I
guess this is why people age their wine in cellars, where the
temperature changes are smaller. The barrel is kept in a brick room
adjoining the house, but is subject to fairly strong late afternoon
heat in our (oncoming) summer. Any ideas as to how we can protect the
barrel from extreme heat changes? Worried about oxidation, bacterial
contamination etc.

Oak barrel overflowing as weather gets warmer
 

Install a small, thermostat-controlled swamp cooler in the roof maybe? or
how bout a holed bung with a tube connected to some sort of heavy strength
plastic bag bladder that can expand and contract with the wine? or bubble
wrap insulation around the barrel during hot weather? or insulation board
glued to the walls and ceiling to increase R factor?

"Terry Bell" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> We have a barrique of pinot, vintage March 2006, and approaching our
> southern summer the temperature is rising. We have a solid silicon
> bung on the barrel, and the option of a waterlock (hasn't been through
> malo yet). The problem is, as we get a warm spell of three or four
> days, the ambient temperature is rising and the wine is expanding; when
> we take off the bung the wine spills out. Then when the weather cools
> down for a few days, the wine contracts again and we get ullage. I
> guess this is why people age their wine in cellars, where the
> temperature changes are smaller. The barrel is kept in a brick room
> adjoining the house, but is subject to fairly strong late afternoon
> heat in our (oncoming) summer. Any ideas as to how we can protect the
> barrel from extreme heat changes? Worried about oxidation, bacterial
> contamination etc.
>