preview

What Does Wood Aging Do To Wine

Decent Essays

BARRELS

What does wood aging do to a wine? There are three aspects to consider, the wood it is made from, the size and shape of the cask, and the age of the cask. Oak is the preferred timber because of its strength and relative lightness, its cellular structure and it is the taste components it contributes to wine.

Aging wine in small oak barrels accomplishes several things. Barrels add oak nuances and flavors, similar to the spicing in a food dish. Thus, the choice of a barrel is very important relative to size, source, degree of toasting, and the cooper’s barrel-making technique. There needs to be a synergistic effect between the wood and the wine.

The major factor influencing the flavor/aroma composition of oak cooperage is the heating and toasting of the staves during barrel-making. Toasting penetrates about halfway into the stave, about 10-14 mm. …show more content…

But more importantly, it provides the optimum surface area of oak to wine. Smaller casks provide more oak-contact, but are not cost effective. Lastly, the age of the cask is an important factor. New oak contains the most flavoring compounds. As the cask is used, tannins and other substances are leached out of the wood and tartrate crystals from the wine build up on the barrel’s interior, eventually causing the cask to become inert. New oak also allows for more oxidation and inserts more tannin. It also contains more softening substances from the cellulose of the wood. The best French barrels cost about $800 each, the American oak costing about half. One barrel holds enough wine for about 25 cases. Well-treated barrels can be used several times, especially for whites. Therefore, if a winemaker decides to use a French oak barrel three times, each case of wine will cost roughly $14 more to produce or $7 more a case with American

Get Access