Murúa has just presented the pioneering Origen Project, which analyses the contribution of American oak to wine according to different geographical origins.
Tonelería Murúa believes that tradition and experience should be supported by a continuous drive for research, innovation, and development. Therefore, it constantly promotes research, innovation, and development. Since 2010, Tonelería Murúa has conducted 12 research studies, investing more than 570,000 euros in this field.
Additionally, convinced of the importance of keeping this flame alive, Murúa Hub remains active. It is a space for research, meeting, connection, learning, exchange, and inspiration. Elena Ceca, CEO and fourth generation at the helm of Tonelería Murúa, assures that “research is a key piece for our development because only with this type of studies can we achieve excellence in barrel manufacturing and understand and offer alternatives to wineries.”
Ceca also believes that “it allows us to be in very direct contact with winemakers and wineries and thus foster a long and fruitful conversation to know their needs and propose personalized solutions.”
Research
Murúa Hub is based on three pillars. The research led by Tonelería Murúa is one of the most important. Since 2010, 12 research projects have been carried out thanks to an investment of 570,000 euros.
Works such as the study on white varieties of DOCa Rioja in different types of wood, the influence of the type of wood, toasting, and drying on the aging of Graciano, or the influence of immersion in water on French oak wood, are some of the latest projects carried out under the leadership of Tonelería Murúa. These projects have the collaboration of public and private agents to jointly seek new information that allows advancing in the excellence of barrel manufacturing.
Proyecto Origen
The latest study conducted is the pioneering Proyecto Origen. The objective of the project is to obtain greater knowledge of the contribution of oak to wine based on its geographical origin to be able to choose one area or another depending on the wine to be produced or the starting grape.
To do this, wines have been aged in barrels from forests in four geographical areas of the United States: Missouri, Kentucky, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, and it is analyzed how the different origins affect the chemical and sensory characteristics of the wines.
14 wineries from D.O Ca Rioja and Ribera del Duero have participated in the study. It is a research project carried out in collaboration with the University of La Rioja, Excell Ibérica laboratories, and supported by ADER.
The work carried out within the Proyecto Origen has allowed Zhao Feng to complete their doctoral thesis. Under the title ‘Chemical and sensory characterization of Tempranillo wines in Quercus Alba oak barrels from different geographical origins,’ the now doctor has relied on the study and conclusions of the research conducted under the umbrella of Proyecto Origen.
Impact
The response from the media to the dissemination of this project has confirmed that it is an element of enormous interest both for the wine sector and for society in general. You can listen to Elena Ceca’s intervention on Radio Nacional de España on Radio 5 Todo Noticias at this link. Media such as nuevecuatrouno, Europa Press, or the prestigious magazine Enólogos have echoed our research.
Activity Center
Another pillar of Murúa Hub is the Murúa Hub Activity Center, the space where industry professionals gather to exchange knowledge and experiences about wine aging. Murúa dedicates time in this meeting space of the cooperage to disseminate techniques and knowledge about wine aging to groups of technical professionals, universities, and winemakers. Technical conferences, meetings with professionals and universities, participation in business conferences.
Third-party studies
Finally, at Murúa Hub, various research and studies on the world of wine, oenology, and the contribution that the art of cooperage can make are closely followed. In this space, you can find various studies that are of interest to our sector.
Murúa Hub has a permanent consultation and exchange space on the Tonelería Murúa website.
