The next big thing in wine? Concrete tanks, Japanese firm hopes

Hokkaido manufacturer takes crack at untapped market

20220914 Wine Tank

Aizawa Concrete will compare wines aged in stainless steel and concrete tanks. (Photo courtesy of Aizawa Concrete)

MASATOSHI IDA, Nikkei staff writer

SAPPORO, Japan -- A company in Hokkaido plans to mass-produce fermentation tanks made out of concrete, but first the vintages made in the egg-shaped receptacles must pass muster with sommeliers.

Aizawa Concrete will soon launch proving tests pitting its concrete wine tanks with conventional stainless-steel tanks in wineries in Hokkaido, Yamanashi and Nagano prefectures.

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