Margi Cintrano
Washing Up
The oak barrel is the traditional and most appreciated container for wine, particularly the so called Bordeaux Barrique, which has the capacity of 225 Litres & became the most widely used in La Rioja, Spain once French wine producing methods were adapted in La Rioja in the 1870s.
Most wine barrels are made of oak, as this wood came to be considered the best for storing and maturing or ageing of wines. Oak allows for a moderate oxidisation of the wine, it reduces its astrigency, stablises its colour and adds various compounds that improve its aromas and taste profile.
Of more than 150 known species of Oak, only three are used to produce barrels.
1. QUERCUS PETRAEA: also known as Sessiflora or Sessile Oak, which has a fine wood of LOW porosity that adds vanilla aromas to the wine and is French in origin. This is why it can only be employed for 3 to 6 months, due to very very low porosity.
2. QUERCUS ROBUR: variously known as Russian Oak, or French and which is very tannic and porous too. It is not widely used any longer in Spain.
3. QUERCUS ALBA: The American White Oak, has an extremely compact wood and thus, it is low in tannins and adds chocolate aromas ... It is used predominately in Ribera Del Duero and Catalonia as well as after the 3 to 6 month period, the Sissile Oak held wine, is transfered to the American Oak for almost 36 months for Oak Aged Crianza and longer for Reserva and Grand Reserva.
All my best for a lovely summer,
Ciao,
Margaux Cintrano.
Most wine barrels are made of oak, as this wood came to be considered the best for storing and maturing or ageing of wines. Oak allows for a moderate oxidisation of the wine, it reduces its astrigency, stablises its colour and adds various compounds that improve its aromas and taste profile.
Of more than 150 known species of Oak, only three are used to produce barrels.
1. QUERCUS PETRAEA: also known as Sessiflora or Sessile Oak, which has a fine wood of LOW porosity that adds vanilla aromas to the wine and is French in origin. This is why it can only be employed for 3 to 6 months, due to very very low porosity.
2. QUERCUS ROBUR: variously known as Russian Oak, or French and which is very tannic and porous too. It is not widely used any longer in Spain.
3. QUERCUS ALBA: The American White Oak, has an extremely compact wood and thus, it is low in tannins and adds chocolate aromas ... It is used predominately in Ribera Del Duero and Catalonia as well as after the 3 to 6 month period, the Sissile Oak held wine, is transfered to the American Oak for almost 36 months for Oak Aged Crianza and longer for Reserva and Grand Reserva.
All my best for a lovely summer,
Ciao,
Margaux Cintrano.