Earlier this year I had the pleasure of judging the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition in Cloverdale, California. While there I spent time talking with other industry folks to see what is new in the wine world and learned that one of the latest trends is one of the oldest: fermenting in cement tanks.

Cement vats shaped like swimming pools or 1930's ice box style refrigerators have long been used by vintners in Spain, France and South America to ferment grapes into wine. Now US winemakers are jumping on the bandwagon but with their own twist. Cement tanks that are shaped like an egg.

"The juice kind of hits the walls and bounces off in different directions so it keeps the cap softer and not as firm so it's easier to mix and do pump-over which makes the flavors more delicate," says Hillary Fraser, an independent cellar specialist. She's helped with vintages across the world including those fermented in egg shaped cement tanks.

"The natural yeast in concrete will make wine as similar to the year before as possible," says Hillary. That helps keep the vintages the same and also creates a note of minerality in the wine, a flavor that US consumers love. While cement adds wanted flavors, it can also cause problems if the tanks aren't kept sparkling clean.

"If the tank gets any type of bacteria like brett or something, concrete is porous so you can't clean it out efficiently as you can stainless steel", warns Hillary.

The tanks are mostly made in Europe then shipped to the US which can be expensive. But once in place, Hillary says the vat can last forever, just like a favorite cooking utensil.

"You don't really clean clean them, because you want whatever is in the concrete to put those same flavors in your next vintage. So to keep those notes you treat the tank like a cast iron pan. You never truly clean a cast iron pan because whatever you cook last will give it flavor for what goes in next".

Here are a few wineries that use the egg shaped concrete tanks that have wines available in Indiana: Michel Chapoutier, France, Archery Summit, Oregon, Quintessa, California, Viader Vineyards & Winery, California.