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

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.