Swarovski crystals have now even come to the world of wine making. In addition to being stuck on the bottles, now you can buy then in the shape of a Swarovski crystal bung, the stopper on top of a new luxury limited edition wine barrel from French cooperage Radoux. The luxury X-Blend barrel is made from French oak from a selected secret forest and the oak’s toast is determined by the buyer. The barrel also has leather strips that overlay the metal hoops.

It was displayed at the Vinitech wine equipment and technology show in Bordeaux and sells for 1200 euros which is double the price of a normal barrel. A maximum of 100 will be made each year and Decanter reports that 20 were sold at Vinitech. I’m not sure what they would be used for, for display or perhaps to create some ultra-pricey vintage. While I respect the art of the cooper and great barrels are important in producing some great wines, the crystallized bung seems like overkill to me.

By Deidre Woollard. Source : www.luxist.com

The latest weapon in the battle against the dreaded cork taint is something called Airocide. Airocide is a process designed by NASA scientists in the 1990s to remove airborne contaminants and keep fruit and vegetables fresh on a space station. It turns out that it can also eliminate TCA (2,4,6-trichloroanisole), the chemical that causes cork taint in wine.

Decanter explains the process which involves sucking air through a box containing a ‘bed’ of titanium dioxide catalyst which is irradiated by UV bulbs, oxidizing any organic contaminants. UK wine laboratory Corkwise performed the trials on behalf of Airocide. It could be used in wineries and warehouses and is already used in food storage.

Source : www.luxist.com

The Glenfiddich distillery recently commissioned UK based design studio johnson banks to bring the maturation process of their single malt whiskies to life through a series of artworks.  The creative team decided to use the barrel as their muse, exploring it in its singular parts, as a way of depicting the distinctive characteristics of Glenfiddich’s five signature whiskies, aged 12 to 30 years.  The end result of the project is a stunning display of industrial pieces that give weight to the passage of time.

The image pictured illustrates “the angel’s share,” the amount of whisky that evaporates during distillation, the words “For 21 Years We Take a Share” cut into the wood.  With so many alcohol companies spending top dollar on advertising campaigns promoting vacuous experiences, it’s a nice change to see a celebration of tradition and taste which is ultimately the thing being sold anyway.

For more visuals of barrel art click here.

Source : creativereview via psfk