08/28/07 American Oak Barrels

Welcome to Vine to wine this is your host Linda Moran. Today we are discussing the American oak barrels. Well it may sound crazy but wine benefits from breathing, an attribute not allowed when it is in a stainless steel tank. Barrels actually allow some evaporation  which is a good thing as long as the barrels are topped off with wine to keep oxygen from creeping in. Two major types of barrels used today, made from French or American oak. American oak is in some cases is more popular than French oak due to the difference in price, with American oak at about 300 plus dollars a barrel compared to French oak at 600 plus dollars per barrel. Add to that the life expectancy of a barrel is three years and it is quite an investment. It could easily be the most costly part of making a wine. Although, it obviously increases the cost of the wine, just what is it that American oak adds to your glass of wine? What are the characteristics you will recognize? First of all, it is used primarily for aging wines such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Zinfandel. The wood has larger grain and imparts bold characteristics of vanilla, cedar and dill. You will recognize these attributes in many popular US and Australian wines. However, whether French or American after three years that barrel is retired to the flowerpot on the patio. Remember to send your wine questions to Linda at Vine to Wine dot net and thank you for joining me on today's Vine to Wine.