Ausvat
Pty Ltd
Oak
Technologies
Ausvats French and American oak is purchased as two
and three year air seasoned stavewood.
This stavewood is hand selected
for Ausvat to
ensure the individual staves are wide and straight and most importantly,
free of any defects.
This oak is then used for the manufacture of the Stakvat® oak walls.
Oak recovery by Ausvat’s patented barrel reclaim process creates an oak resource of huge proportions previously unavailable to the industry. It provides a second opportunity for barrels to be converted into useable oak battens for reapplication to wine.
Manufacture
Stakvat’s®
oak walls are
crafted by cooperage methods
utilising high speed machining. This
provides stave slots into which stainless steel strips are inserted. The
stainless steel strips add to the strength and straightness to the oak
walls enabling reshaving and refiring of the oak panels and therefore,
complete oak recovery.
Barrel reclaimed oak is a great way to oak your wines. The recovered oak battens are placed on to stainless steel 'Warren-Bruer' rings making it easier to oak wine. 'Warren Bruer' racks can then be simply inserted into tanks through the opening at the top of each the tank for proven barrel like results in tanks at one tenth the cost of conventional barrel ageing regimes.
Toasting
Ausvat has designed, developed, and patented a unique oak heating and toasting system. The state of the art toasting equipment allows for both sides of the oak battens to be toasted consistently without moisture loss for the best results in wine. This patented oak heating system can create high levels of desirable compounds creating pleasant aromas such as coconut and vanilla. However, the winemaker can always choose the level of toasting required for a particular wine. The toasting equipment has finite controls for temperature and exposure times.
Barrel Reclaim: Patent No's: Aus: 2002301280
U.S.: 6898834B1 N.Z.: 516690
Stakvat: Patent No's: Aus: 617673 776873 U.S.: 4953730 6752399B2 N.Z.:
226424
Reg. Design No: 1545/95 Reg. Trademark No: A574931
Heating Of Oakwood: Patent No's: Aus: 776626 U.S.: 10/919597 N.Z.:
517061