Wine and Oak

There are times when you have probably looked at a bottle of wine, and on the label and it said aged oak in barrels.  The two most common types of oaks you might see listed are new oak, or French oak. What does oak do with wine?

Oak has played a significant role in wine making. The use of oak was not only found to be a method of storage since the Roman empire, it was discovered that storing the wine in oak took on proprieties that improved the wine by making it softer and in some cases, better tasting.

French oak barrels cost twice the amount of American oak barrels. French oak has a tighter wood grain so it has a less of an influence on the wine aromas. French oak has a more subtle, slightly more savory effect on the wine, and produces a wine with a less obviously "oaky" flavor and smell than American oak. American oak tends to impart a much stronger flavor, with sweet vanilla flavors and spicy notes, and produce more aromatics vs. French oak.

The newer the barrel, the more concentrated the oak’s influence will be on the wine. Barrels are re-used for several years, and the amount of new or old oak used in a wine is important. The use of too much new oak, which makes the wine taste oaky, can be considered to be a wine fault. Traditionally, new oak barrels are usually reserved for premium wines.  

More about oak!

Oak provides flavors and aromas to the wine, also affecting the color and texture. Think of oak as a seasoning to add flavor and a palatable appeal to the wine. The oak influence on the wine can add flavors of coconut, vanilla, cinnamon, smoke, cocoa, clove, toffee and butter on the palate. The wines phenols interact with the chemical properties within the wood to produce vanilla flavors. Oak also provides tannins. These tannins act like a preservative, allowing wine to age longer.

Which wines are oaked?

Red wines tend to benefit the most for time in oak. A white wine that has been aged in oak (like a Chardonnay) will often produce a wine with a nutty and buttery characteristic. Wine ageds in oak are generally more complex with an interesting texture than those aged in stainless steel tanks. White wines like Riesling and Sauvignon do not benefit from being aged in oak.

 As you explore the wines you purchase, look on the label for how the wine was aged via different types of oak. Wines that are aged in new oak and French oak will typically cost you more.

Cheers!