How Do You Use Oak Wine Barrels?
Oak barrels have been used in winemaking to enhance the flavors and aromas of wine for more than 2,000 years. The natural phenols and tannins in oak react more beneficently with wine than many other wood varieties. Using oak wine barrels is, however, more complex than just storing wine in the barrel. Several precautions and pretreatments are necessary to ready your barrel for use. Choose a barrel with an appropriate “toast” level for your wine. Coopers will toast the inside of a wine barrel to modify the flavor-enhancing properties. The lighter the toast, the more oak overtones will be imparted. Heavier toasting causes a paler color and reduces some flavor notes like coconut. Tighten your barrel and check for leaks. Place the barrel outside or inside in a space with a floor drain. Fill the barrel with clean, cold water and place the bung into the bung-hole. Any leaks in the barrel should be apparent the following day. Fill the barrel back up if leaks are present to allow more water to
