Island Life Magazine Ltd August/September 2009 | Page 105

FOOD & DRINK

life

Oak Barrels
and wine – a
perfect match ?
Tim Flint

One of the many aspects in

which are then dampened. The

making wine is the use of

partially constructed barrel is

the Oak Barrel. This plays an

placed over a small wood fire

important part in the taste

and the inside of the barrel

and evolution of a fine wine,

is charred or "toasted". The

imparting flavour and tannin

amount of char has an effect

into the finished wine.

on the wine aged in the barrel.

French Oak was, and still is

Winemakers can select from

by many, considered the most

Light, Medium or Heavy Toast.

desirable wood for making

The Toast decision is made

wine barrels. Most French Oak

based on the variety of grape

comes from one or more of

and style of wine which will be

the forests planted in the days

aged in the barrel.

of Napoleon for ship building.

Each barrel takes between 8

Allier, Limousin, Nevers,

and 10 manhours to produce

Trancais and Vosges forests

with substantial cost in

produce woods with distinctive

materials. You can perhaps

characteristics and winemakers

see why an oaked wine from

select their barrels based on

Bordeaux, Burgundy or Rioja

the desired effect for their

costs more than an unoaked

vineyard style and taste.

wine. As to flavour, well you

A wine barrel is made up

are the best judge – if you

of staves, or strips of oak,

like the creaminess and vanilla

which have been shaped into

nuances of a great red wine,

a bulging cylinder with flat

or the subtle butter tones

heads or ends. The cooper,

in a delicious Burgundian

or barrel maker, selects the

Chardonnay, then oak is for

best staves assembling them

you.

inside a metal hoop that acts

Tim Flint

as a jig. Three metal hoops

Eurovines Ltd.

are forced into place, creating

01983 811743

a solid hold on the staves,

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