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.