A container assembly (10) for retaining a liquid (16) during aging of the liquid (16) comprises a container (12) and an oxygenator (230). The container (12) includes a container body (14) that defines a chamber (14A) that receives and retains the liquid (16). The oxygenator (230) is positioned substantially within the chamber (14A). The oxygenator (230) includes a fluid source (662), one or more diffusers (672), and a valve (670). The one or more diffusers (672) are in fluid communication with the fluid source (662). The valve (670) selectively controls the introduction of a fluid from the fluid source (662) into the liquid (16) through the one or more diffusers (672). The container assembly (10) further comprises an insert retainer assembly (338) and one or more flavor inserts (440) that are received and retained by the insert retainer assembly (338). The container (12) further includes a container aperture (20) that extends through the container body (14). The container aperture (20) can have a size that is less than approximately twenty-five percent of the total surface area of a top of the container body (14). Additionally, the container aperture (20) can extend outward radially from the center of the top of the container body (14).

System for maturation of wine comprises a tank and one or more wooden barrels and flow connectors to allow circulation of maturing wine between the tank and the one or more barrels. The barrels may comprise a wooden exterior and an internal volume and a plurality of internal wooden surfaces extending inwardly of the wooden exterior into the internal volume to increase wood surface area. The barrel may be a traditional oak barrel.

System for maturation of wine comprises a tank and one or more wooden barrels and flow connectors to allow circulation of maturing wine between the tank and the one or more barrels. The barrels may comprise a wooden exterior and an internal volume and a plurality of internal wooden surfaces extending inwardly of the wooden exterior into the internal volume to increase wood surface area. The barrel may be a traditional oak barrel.

An automatic replenishing system for automatically replenishing preservative gas within a compressible bladder for supply to the inner volume of a vessel. A compressible bladder has an outer wall and an inner volume. A supply conduit receives preservative gas from a source, and a discharge conduit supplies preservative gas to a vessel. An inflation detection system detect a first condition wherein the compressible bladder is inflated to a state of inflation and a second condition wherein the compressible bladder is inflated below the state of inflation. A valve system is operative to prevent preservative gas from flowing from the source of preservative gas and into the compressible bladder when the compressible bladder is in the first condition and to permit preservative gas to flow from the source of preservative gas and into the compressible bladder when the compressible bladder is in the second condition.

A gas liquid absorption device (GLAD), featuring a gas inlet manifold, a liquid inlet manifold and a gas/liquid mixing foamer. The gas inlet manifold has a gas inlet configured to receive and provide an inlet gas, and also has a gas foamer cavity formed therein and coupled fluidically to the gas inlet to receive the inlet gas. The liquid inlet manifold has a liquid inlet configured to receive and provide a non-infused liquid, and also has a liquid foamer cavity formed therein and coupled fluidically to the liquid inlet to receive the non-infused liquid. The gas/liquid mixing foamer is configured between the gas inlet manifold and the liquid inlet manifold and arranged in the gas foamer cavity and the liquid foamer cavity. The gas/liquid mixing foamer has a gas foamer wall configured to form a gas receiving foamer chamber that is fluidically coupled to the gas foamer cavity. The gas foamer wall has gas provisioning holes formed therein to provide dispersed inlet gas from the gas receiving foamer chamber. The gas/liquid mixing foamer has a liquid foamer wall configured to form a liquid receiving foamer chamber that is fluidically coupled to the liquid foamer cavity. The liquid foamer wall having liquid provisioning holes formed therein to provide dispersed non-infused liquid from the liquid receiving foamer chamber. The mixing chamber is configured to receive the dispersed inlet gas and the dispersed non-infused liquid, infuse the dispersed inlet gas and the dispersed non-infused liquid, and provide a foamed gas/liquid mixture from the mixing chamber.

A tap apparatus including a container coupling portion including a liquid inlet portion, a body portion, and a plug valve portion. The body portion includes a liquid outlet portion, wherein the liquid outlet portion is in fluid communication with the liquid inlet portion of the container coupling portion. The plug valve portion is configured and arranged to be seated within the body portion, wherein the plug valve portion is configured and arranged to be moved relative to the body portion between an open position, in which a liquid is free to flow from the liquid inlet portion and out through the liquid outlet portion, and a closed position, in which liquid from the liquid inlet portion is prevented from flowing out through the liquid outlet portion. The body portion also includes a plurality of flow channels provided in an interior surface thereof.

A tap apparatus including a container coupling portion including a liquid inlet portion, a body portion, and a plug valve portion. The body portion includes a liquid outlet portion, wherein the liquid outlet portion is in fluid communication with the liquid inlet portion of the container coupling portion. The plug valve portion is configured and arranged to be seated within the body portion, wherein the plug valve portion is configured and arranged to be moved relative to the body portion between an open position, in which a liquid is free to flow from the liquid inlet portion and out through the liquid outlet portion, and a closed position, in which liquid from the liquid inlet portion is prevented from flowing out through the liquid outlet portion. The body portion also includes a plurality of flow channels provided in an interior surface thereof.

Process for the protein stabilization of an oenological liquid, comprising a step of preparation of an oenological liquid (3) containing proteins, a step of application of at least one pulsed electric field to the oenological liquid (3), followed by a step of introducing at least one protease into the oenological liquid (3), a hydrolysis step, in which the protease catalyses the breakage of at least one peptide bond between the amino group and the carboxyl group of the proteins present in the oenological liquid (3), thereby forming compounds (7) containing the amino and/or carboxyl groups; such hydrolysis step transforms the oenological liquid (3) into a stabilised oenological liquid (5).

Process for the protein stabilization of an oenological liquid, comprising a step of preparation of an oenological liquid (3) containing proteins, a step of application of at least one pulsed electric field to the oenological liquid (3), followed by a step of introducing at least one protease into the oenological liquid (3), a hydrolysis step, in which the protease catalyses the breakage of at least one peptide bond between the amino group and the carboxyl group of the proteins present in the oenological liquid (3), thereby forming compounds (7) containing the amino and/or carboxyl groups; such hydrolysis step transforms the oenological liquid (3) into a stabilised oenological liquid (5).

One feature pertains to a device that includes a main body having a bottle-receiving end that receives a bottle and forms a substantially airtight seal between the main body and an exterior surface of the bottle surrounding a mouth of the bottle. The bottle-receiving end has a bottom opening to allow for fluid-flow communication between an interior air cavity of the main body and a headspace of the bottle. The device further includes a stopper securement device, and a vacuum pump that evacuates air out of the interior air cavity and the headspace to create a vacuum or partial vacuum within the headspace. The device also includes a means for inserting the stopper into the mouth of the bottle using the stopper securement device after the vacuum pump evacuates air out of the interior cavity and the headspace.