The “Barricaia”: this scarcely elegant term is now commonly used to indicate the room or rooms where refinement of the wine in wooden barrels takes place.

Barrique means a 225 litre wooden barrel, which is now the most commonly used type given its good results and practicality.

Oak is the best type of wood, and we purchase barrels only from the most reliable companies, choosing those of medium and low toasting, French above all, but also Spanish and Italian.

Quality and variety are important, as these characteristics complement each other and bring about the right complexity. We use above all barrels that have already been used, because when the wood is new it releases a very intense flavour which has a profound effect on the wine and tends to overwhelm other flavours.

Some growers look for this effect, but we prefer our wines to be characterised by elegance and a complexity of odours, and for this reason only some 10 to 15% is matured in new wood.