What is Micro Oxygenation (microbullage)?

What is Micro Oxygenation (microbullage)?

• A. An ancient aging process using barrel-aged wine.
• B. A technique of adding large amounts of oxygen to promote oxidation.
• C. An aeration technique allowing small amounts of oxygen to enter a stainless steel tank during fermentation or maturation; may be combined with oak chips.
• D. A method of rapid carbonation.

Answer: (C)

Micro Oxygenation, or microbullage, is the practice of introducing very small, controlled amounts of oxygen into wine during fermentation or maturation, typically in stainless steel tanks and sometimes alongside oak chips. The aim is to mimic the slow, natural oxidation that occurs during barrel aging, but in a regulated way that softens tannins, stabilizes color, and helps develop complexity without letting oxidation run away. This technique can also aid aroma development and reduce reductive notes. It is not about aging with large amounts of oxygen, not about ancient barrel aging, and not about rapid carbonation.

Micro Oxygenation, or microbullage, is the practice of introducing very small, controlled amounts of oxygen into wine during fermentation or maturation, typically in stainless steel tanks and sometimes alongside oak chips. The aim is to mimic the slow, natural oxidation that occurs during barrel aging, but in a regulated way that softens tannins, stabilizes color, and helps develop complexity without letting oxidation run away. This technique can also aid aroma development and reduce reductive notes. It is not about aging with large amounts of oxygen, not about ancient barrel aging, and not about rapid carbonation.