GentleJet wine barrel cleaning machine

As ‘toast’ can be an important factor when making wine, Gamajet has released the GentleJet; a wine barrel cleaning machine that is claimed to provide a thorough clean without damaging the barrel’s toast.

Toast is the level of charring applied to a wine barrel during construction. As the level of toast can affect the taste and aroma of the wine within the barrel, it is important that it is not damaged or removed. However, tartrates and other soils do need to be removed, leading to a dilemma when the wine barrel needs to be cleaned.

The machine uses Gamajet’s rotary impingement technology at low pressure (60 psi) to gently scrub the wine barrel’s interior and remove tartrates and other soils. The company claims that operating at low pressure minimises the cleaning fluid’s impact within the barrel, which minimises the impact on the toast. The gentle cleaning action may prolong the wine barrel’s use by 1-2 years, the company says.

The machine is said to use less time and water than traditional wine barrel cleaners and, as it does not contain a pressure washer, repairs and maintenance are reduced. The machine does not contain exposed gears, minimising the risk of cross-contamination.

The machine is suitable for use on both oak and stainless steel wine barrels.