Following the growing interest of oenologists and winemakers worldwide in the benefits of concrete wine tanks during the different stages of winemaking, Winecrete was born. Located at the foothills of the Central Pyrenees in the Somontano Designation of Origin area, the company draws from the nearby Cinca River to source siliceous aggregates for its quarries.

A bit of history…

Concrete has traditionally been used to build winery tanks, as evidenced by the concrete lacus found in Roman villas from the first centuries of our era. The main problem with their construction was the appearance of voids in the floors and walls, caused by poorly set or mixed concrete. From an oenological perspective, the biggest issue with concrete is the leaching of calcium from the material and iron from the reinforcement into the wine, due to the acidic pH and the presence of sulfur dioxide. This leaching causes physicochemical instability in the wines, which can be resolved by using various types of coatings.

This coating can be achieved with a film of calcium tartrate (insoluble in wine) or with epoxy resin linings, which emerged in the 1970s, providing hygiene and simplicity in cleaning processes. Thanks to their thermal inertia, they provide uniform and constant temperatures and are free of electrostatic charges.

What are the benefits?

A major advantage of concrete tanks is their thermal inertia, due to the thickness of their walls. This facilitates malolactic fermentation and helps maintain the wine’s temperature during storage. Likewise, these tanks can be used during alcoholic fermentation by using stainless steel plates or alternative temperature control systems placed inside the tank.

Furthermore, the use of cement ensures the absence of the electrostatic charges found in metal tanks, a factor that favors the clarification and stabilization of the wine and reduces the precipitation of large amounts of potassium bitartrate.

In a world like that of wine, straddling modernity and tradition, the combination of techniques and materials in search of different profiles adapted to evolving consumer tastes creates the ideal breeding ground for the development of Winecrete. Our motivation always lies in adapting to the individual needs required at any given time, embracing every challenge as part of the company’s own added value.