02 Process Step 2 — Fermentation & Assemblage: Cava — El Celestial Ouroboros Mark III
Process Summary
Three parallel fermentations (T1 reductive, T2 wild-complexity, Garnatxa standard) → Universal Acidification Triage (Escudo Ácido) at <8°C, pH 3.25 → Lees Sélection (T1 smell-check; T2 fine-layer only, CO₂ blanket) → Bio-Integration in 1,800 L tank, 7-day window → Tirage with EC1118 → 36-month bottle aging.
This step covers everything from the start of fermentation through the assemblage and the in-tank bio-integration. The bottle aging is covered in step3_bottling.
Process Stages
- Parallel fermentations (T1 at 25–27°C; T2 cold-soak then 22–24°C; Garnatxa moderate)
- Día 0: Acid Shield — cool all tanks <8°C; acidify each to pH 3.25
- Día 1: Garnatxa integration — wine + lías to main assemblage tank
- Día 1: T1 selection — smell-check; if H₂S, splash-rack and discard lías; if clean, pump wine + lías
- Día 1: T2 critical step — NO splash; CO₂ blanket; keep only fine lías, discard sludge
- 24–72 hours: Bio-integration — 1,800 L at 8°C, pH 3.25; gentle bâtonnage with inert gas
- Day 1–7: Sensory window — daily smell check; if ethyl acetate appears, abort and bottle
- Day 7: Tirage — rack off lías; add Liqueur de Tirage with EC1118; bottle
Five Levers of Control (this step)
- Time: 7-day bio-integration (preferred under strict anaerobic control)
- Temperature: <8°C acidification; 12–14°C aging begins after tirage
- Oxygen: Master lever. CO₂ blanket for T2 transfer; crown cap; no splash; anaerobic tank
- Extraction: None in assemblage; only gentle bâtonnage for lías suspension
- Vessel: Stainless steel temperature-controlled tanks; sealed bottle
Assets
| Filename | Description | Stage |
|---|---|---|
Adding 22pp Garnatxa to Trepat improves wine | The signature assemblage moment — 22% Garnatxa being added | Assemblage |
elemination of skins from tank | Skins removal (T2 selection) | T2 sélection |
fermentation process | Active fermentation | Parallel |
fermentation_process_ bubbles | Fermentation bubbles (CO₂ release) | Parallel |
transfusion | Racking transfer | Triage |
wine in tube_transfusion | Transfer via tubing | Triage |
| Trepat in the tank flowing | Trepat into tank | Parallel |
| maceration | Maceration / lías suspension | Bio-integration |
fermentation_with_clusters_on_top | Clusters on must surface | Pre-press |
Plot_of_fermentation process | Fermentation plot | Documentation |
filter | Filter media | Documentation |
taking samples | Sampling | Monitoring |
taking_samples_microbiology | Microbiology sampling | Monitoring |
Taking samples for microbiology | Microbiology sampling video | Monitoring |
