In addition to the region’s climate and terroir, oak barrels are also an important reason for the differences in white wine styles.
So what is the effect of oak barrels on white wine?
Oak barrel: To use or not to use?
In fact, in the process of making white wine, the winemaker decides whether to use oak barrels or not, depending on the characteristics of the grape variety and the wine style they want to achieve.
For example, if a winemaker wants a fruit-driven white wine with a crisp, fresh style that is good for early drinking, stainless steel tanks, rather than oak barrels, are often used during fermentation and aging to retain the wine’s fresh fruit and crisp acidity.
In the case of more complex, full-bodied white wines, the winemaker is likely to use oak barrels to ferment or age to add complexity and character.
Second, what are the effects of oak barrels on white wine?
1. Influence on the color of white wine, oak barrel has a more significant influence on the color of white wine than red wine.
Generally, white wines become darker the longer they are aged in oak barrels.
Chardonnay wines that haven’t been aged in oak, for example, tend to be lighter in color, while those that have been aged in oak tend to be darker, with more golden tones.
2. Increased Aroma and flavor The use of oak barrel fermentation or aging can give white wines a more complex aroma and flavor.
On the one hand, the new barrels have their own aromas and flavors, and these aromatic compounds are introduced into the wine as it comes into contact with the barrels.
In general, American barrels tend to give wine flavors like vanilla and coconut, while French barrels give wine flavors like hazelnut and smoky.
In the case of chardonnay, American barrels give it a flavor similar to popcorn and toffee, while French oak barrels give nutty, slightly smoky flavors.
On the other hand, in the aging process of wine using oak barrels, oxygen can enter the barrels through the pores and react with the wine, thus giving the wine oxidized aromas and flavors, such as nutty notes such as almond, hazelnut and walnut, and chocolate, coffee, toffee and caramel.
In addition, the size of the barrel, how old it is, and how long the wine has been in the barrel all affect the wine.
Compared with the 500L barrels, the 225L small oak barrels have a greater proportion of the wine in contact with the oak, and therefore have a greater impact on the wine.
At the same time, the influence of oak barrels on wine is reduced after one or two uses, while older barrels that have been used many times give little oak flavor to the wine, but still play an important role in the oxidative aging of the wine.
In Alsace, some winemakers make rieslings in large, old oak barrels to enhance the texture and aroma complexity of the wine with just the right amount of oxidation without introducing unwanted oak.
3. Enhanced taste and aging potential. During the aging process in oak barrels, white wines are exposed to oxygen, which can also enhance the taste and make them more smooth and smooth.
At the same time, some white wines intended to be aged in oak barrels will also choose to undergo alcoholic fermentation in oak barrels, which is conducive to mud aging (Sur Lie).
Some choose to age white wine with the dead yeast cells that gradually settle to the bottom of the container after alcoholic fermentation, creating a puree that triggers subtle chemical reactions.
This method is mainly used in white wines and sparkling wines. It is beneficial to enhance the body and texture of the wine and impart flavor to yeast such as bread, cheese or biscuits.
In addition, aging white wines in newer oak barrels can add a little tannin to the wine, which can enhance the wine’s aging potential to some extent.
Today, many wine regions, such as some California chardonnay, Bordeaux white wines and some Rioja white wines in Spain, are barrel fermented and aged.
The different types of oak barrels have been skillfully used by winemakers to create a variety of styles of wine, creating more possibilities in the colorful world of white wine.
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