Flextank vs. Oak Barrel: An Independent Study

Have you wondered about the scientific comparison of a Flextank versus an oak barrel?

Here are some of the top findings from recent independent studies:

‘A Comparative Study on the Evolution of Wine Aged for 12 Months in a Flextank vs. a Two-Year-Old Oak Barrel’   by Daniel Pambianchi

‘A Comparative Study on the Evolution of Wine Aged for 24 Months in a Flextank vs. a Two-Year-Old Oak Barrel’  by Daniel Pambianchi 

Quotes from the studies:

• “This study demonstrates that, for the first 6 months, the ECO15 Flextank mimics a 55-L (14.5-gal) two-year-old oak barrel from an oxygen transfer rate (OTR) perspective provided that the lid is tightly sealed.
• The lower phenol content and acidity made the Flextank wine taste smoother after 6 months.
• There were no organoleptic differences that stood out even though a concentration effect was expected in the barrel wine due to evaporative losses; both wines recorded similar alcohol concentrations throughout the study.

We invite you to view Daniel’s work and the study in it’s entirety here Techniques in Home Winemaking.