Barrel-with-cover assembly has a barrel and a cover covering at least a portion of the barrel outside surface. Cover has at least one open end. A means for gathering the cover maintains the open end of the cover in limited contact against the outer surface of the barrel. This limited contact, alone or in combination with a liquid exit port, allows liquid that collects between the cover and the barrel to escape, reducing hoop rusting. The assembly is used in a process for aging an alcoholic beverage in the barrel. The film from which the cover is made can have a low ethanol transmission rate and a high oxygen transmission rate, producing organoleptic results similar to uncovered control barrel.

A liquid detection apparatus for monitoring liquid stored in a wine barrel may include an upper portion configured to be inserted into an opening of the wine barrel and a lower portion configured to extend into the liquid when the upper portion is seated in the opening. A sensing device may be located within the lower portion and at least partially surrounded by a protective layer. The sensing device may be configured to obtain sensed input for the liquid through the protective layer. An alert system may be at least partially located within the upper portion and configured to generate an alert in response to the sensed input obtained by the sensing device.

A liquid detection apparatus for monitoring liquid stored in a wine barrel may include an upper portion configured to be inserted into an opening of the wine barrel and a lower portion configured to extend into the liquid when the upper portion is seated in the opening. A sensing device may be located within the lower portion and at least partially surrounded by a protective layer. The sensing device may be configured to obtain sensed input for the liquid through the protective layer. An alert system may be at least partially located within the upper portion and configured to generate an alert in response to the sensed input obtained by the sensing device.

A liquid detection apparatus for monitoring liquid stored in a wine barrel may include an upper portion configured to be inserted into an opening of the wine barrel and a lower portion configured to extend into the liquid when the upper portion is seated in the opening. A sensing device may be located within the lower portion and at least partially surrounded by a protective layer. The sensing device may be configured to obtain sensed input for the liquid through the protective layer. An alert system may be at least partially located within the upper portion and configured to generate an alert in response to the sensed input obtained by the sensing device.

A liquid detection apparatus for monitoring liquid stored in a wine barrel may include an upper portion configured to be inserted into an opening of the wine barrel and a lower portion configured to extend into the liquid when the upper portion is seated in the opening. A sensing device may be located within the lower portion and at least partially surrounded by a protective layer. The sensing device may be configured to obtain sensed input for the liquid through the protective layer. An alert system may be at least partially located within the upper portion and configured to generate an alert in response to the sensed input obtained by the sensing device.

An apparatus for releasing a gas into a liquid housed in a container has a gas assembly including a source of compressed gas; a float in fluid communication with the source of compressed gas; and a gas release member in fluid communication with the source of compressed gas and the float. The gas release member is adapted to release gas into the liquid. The float has variable buoyancy that causes the float and the gas release member to ascend and descend depending on the buoyancy of the float, the buoyancy of the float being reduced as the gas is released into the liquid.

An apparatus for releasing a gas into a liquid housed in a container has a gas assembly including a source of compressed gas; a float in fluid communication with the source of compressed gas; and a gas release member in fluid communication with the source of compressed gas and the float. The gas release member is adapted to release gas into the liquid. The float has variable buoyancy that causes the float and the gas release member to ascend and descend depending on the buoyancy of the float, the buoyancy of the float being reduced as the gas is released into the liquid.

A method for devatting the grape harvest and a device for devatting a grape harvest via the pressurized injection of air or other gases in a controlled manner into self-emptying wine making vats or similar, for the purpose of emptying the grape harvest once the maceration thereof has been completed, after the homogenization of the mixture, transferring the liquid portion to another tank and the crushed grape pulp to the press, thereby obtaining a solid phase (pomace) as a waste product which can be used to produce associated products.

There is disclosed a system and method for processing wine and/or a containing barrel, while keeping a volume of most of the wine in the barrel. The disclosed system and method can provide reduced mixing of different layers of wine in the barrel. An optional scrubbing mechanism cleans an interior surface of the barrel from encrusted matter, and an optional UV sterilization light source sanitizes an interior surface of the barrel that is alongside a cavity in the barrel empty of wine. In some embodiments a pumping and filtering system preserves non-mixing flow of wine in the barrel while effectively filtering wine optionally without the use of a filter cartridge or other interposing medium.

There is disclosed a system and method for processing wine and/or a containing barrel, while keeping a volume of most of the wine in the barrel. The disclosed system and method can provide reduced mixing of different layers of wine in the barrel. An optional scrubbing mechanism cleans an interior surface of the barrel from encrusted matter, and an optional UV sterilization light source sanitizes an interior surface of the barrel that is alongside a cavity in the barrel empty of wine. In some embodiments a pumping and filtering system preserves non-mixing flow of wine in the barrel while effectively filtering wine optionally without the use of a filter cartridge or other interposing medium.