As we already know, wine is not only the grape from which it is made, the barrel also plays a key role in its ageing. A process in which a multitude of factors intervene, the barrel being one of the most important. All of them must be in balance for the final result to be satisfactory.

It is essential to know what type of wine each barrel will house, as each level of toasting offers completely different aromas. Even if it is one type of oak or another, the aromas will also be different. That is why we only make barrels to order.

Today we would like to explain how we toast the wood at Tonelería Murúa. This is a very important stage in the manufacture of our barrels, which will be key to generating the aromas that the wood will transmit to the wine during the months and years that it will remain resting in it.

Such is the importance of this task that it can only be entrusted to the master cooper, who will remain exclusively dedicated to carrying it out and supervising it. Traditional work and craftsmanship in every detail, supported by the best technologies of the moment.

As was done in the past, the barrels are toasted with care, deeply and slowly over a wood fire of the same oak, which generates less aggressive toasting that is more respectful of the fruit. With this type of toasting, the inner layers of the wood are modified, allowing a more efficient exchange of oxygen.

The toasting time, the intensity of the fire and the temperature will modify the organoleptic profile of the compounds that the wood will provide to the future wine.

As we said at the beginning, choosing the right type of toasting is decisive to achieve the character of the wines. In this sense, collaboration with the oenologists of each winery is fundamental, as they must communicate their preferences to us when profiling each barrel and choosing the type of toasting they want to highlight the aromas that the oak will bring to the wine during its ageing.

As we do with the rest of the cooperage processes, we also work closely with universities and technology centres to optimise toasting through our Murúa Hub, a space for research and learning.

In the case of toasting, we have developed an R&D&I project focused on determining the perfect temperature curve for each of the barrel toastings and thus being able to reproduce them repeatedly.

At Tonelería Murúa, uniqueness, experience and innovation go hand in hand. Because details make the difference.

YOU WILL FIND US AT OUR NEW ADDRESS: AVDA LENTISCARES 35, 26370 NAVARRETE, LA RIOJA.