Did you know that the oak barrels which store aging wine can have an effect on the taste of your drink? When we think of wine flavours, we often compare regions or grape variety, however the oak container barrels are a crucial component as well. The oak of the barrel not only affects the wine’s flavour, adding tones such as wood, vanilla and spice, but it can also influence the wine’s structure and texture. Patricia Verschelling, one of our in-house wine experts, is a qualified viticulturist with more than 10 years of experience. She shares some of her knowledge and explains the importance of barrels and how the woody taste is transferred to your wine.
Why are Wines Aged in Oak Barrels?
Hundreds of years before glass wine bottles, wines were originally stored in oak barrels for practical reasons. They were leakproof and their shape and solid structure allowed for easy transportation. People soon began to realise that the longer the wine was stored in these barrels, the more flavoursome it became. Over time, key qualities from the barrels were imparted onto the wine, providing structure, woody flavours and texture. This is why, despite originally being used as a practical container for wine storage, barrels are now an integral part of modern winemaking and why the barrel has become one of the most recognisable symbols associated with wine production all over the world. But how does it work?
How Barrels Affect Wine
How much the wine is affected by the barrel depends on variables such as the age of the barrel, the type of oak, the drying process of the oak itself and the toasting of the inside of the barrel, which can range from light to heavily toasted. New barrels influence wine the most as they create the most flavour, which is why they are often used to store premium wines. Older barrels have less impact on wine. Nevertheless, even barrels that are 5 years or older will still add texture to wine. It's not unusual for winemakers to mix their wine between old and new barrels, in order to prevent over oaking. The phenols in the barrel react with the wine, influencing the flavours, texture and structure. The effect and extent of the influence also depends on the type of grape. Oak barrels have become an accepted and effective way of adding flavour, structure and tones to your wine, without the use of additives.
What Flavours do the Barrels Add?
Oak barrels add many compounds to wines, such as guaiacol, which gives wine its smoky wood tones, as well as furfural, which offers dried fruit and burnt almond notes. And the oak lactone is an important component that brings out woody, coconut notes. The effect of the barrels on the wine depends greatly on whether they are made out of French or American wood and the length of time the wines spend inside the barrels. French oak is often used for ageing premium wines, given that it adds more subtle tones than other types of oak. American oak barrels add lots of flavour and some sweet spice to the wine. Red wines often gain spicy tones with an enhanced structure, whilst white wines will often have a strong nutty, buttery texture. What’s more, the barrels also allow for a slow ingress of oxygen, which gives the wines a smoother, creamier texture and can improve the ageing potential as well.
Experience the Taste Yourself
Excited to start tasting wines and picking out the flavours added by barrels? At our weekly Wine auction you'll find a vast selection of fine wines from all across the globe. Enjoy savouring the flavours by yourself or impress your friends and family with your knowledge at you next party. And if you need to make some space in your cellar, why not offer up your special bottles of wine for auction on Catawiki? It's free to offer up objects for auction and you don't need to be a professional or have any previous experience; everyone is welcome. Just sign up to get started and let Patricia and her team see what you have to offer.
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