In addition to factors such as the climate and terroir of the region, oak barrels are also an important cause of differences in white wine styles. So, what exactly is the impact of oak on white wine?
One, oak barrels: to use or not to use? In fact, in the process of making white wine, the winemaker will decide whether to use oak barrels based on the characteristics of the grape variety and the style of wine they want to achieve. For example, if the winemaker wants to make a white wine that is fruit-driven, crisp, and early-drinking, then stainless steel tanks are often used during fermentation and aging, rather than oak barrels, to preserve the fresh fruit and crisp acidity of the wine. In the case of more complex, full-bodied white wines, winemakers are likely to use oak barrels for fermentation or aging to add complexity and full personality to the wine. Second, what is the impact of oak on white wine? 1. Affects the color of the wineThe impact of oak barrels on the color of white wines is more significant than that of red wines. Generally speaking, the longer a white wine is aged in oak barrels, the darker its color will become. For example, an unoaked Chardonnay is generally lighter in color, while a barrel-aged Chardonnay is usually darker, with more golden tones.
2. Adding aromas and flavorsBarrel fermentation or aging can impart more complex aromas and flavors to white wines. For one thing, new oak barrels carry some aromas and flavors of their own, and these aromatic compounds seep into the wine as it comes into contact with the barrels. In general, American barrels tend to impart flavors such as vanilla and coconut, while French barrels bring hazelnut and smoky flavors to the wine. In the case of Chardonnay, for example, American barrels give it flavors like popcorn and toffee, while French oak barrels bring nutty and slightly smoky flavors. On the other hand, in the process of aging wine in oak barrels, oxygen can enter through the barrel’s pores and react with the wine to bring oxidized aromas and flavors to the liquid, such as nutty notes like almond, hazelnut and walnut, as well as chocolate, coffee, toffee and caramel.
In addition, the size of the barrel, how old or new it is, and how long the wine has been in the barrel can all have an impact on the wine. Compared to a 500L barrel, a small 225L barrel has a larger percentage of contact area with oak, so its impact on the wine is greater. Also, after one or two uses, the barrel’s impact on the wine decreases, while older barrels that have been used many times give little to no oak flavor to the wine, but still play an important role in the oxidative aging of the wine. In Alsace, some winemakers use large old oak barrels to make Riesling, enhancing the wine’s texture and aromatic complexity through moderate oxidation without bringing unwanted oak flavors to the wine. 3. Enhancing taste and aging potentialDuring the barrel aging process, white wines are exposed to oxygen, and the palate can be enhanced to become smoother and denser. Also, some white wines intended for barrel aging choose to undergo alcoholic fermentation in oak barrels, which facilitates sludge aging (Sur Lie). After the alcoholic fermentation of a white wine, the dead yeast cells settle to the bottom of the vessel and form a sludge, which some wineries choose to age with the sludge for a period of time in order to create a subtle chemical reaction. This method is mainly used in white and sparkling wines to enhance the body and texture of the wine and to give the wine a yeasty flavor such as bread, cheese or cookie. In addition, aging white wines in newer oak barrels adds a little tannin to the wine, which can enhance the wine’s aging potential to some extent.
Today, many regions are fermenting and aging their white wines in oak barrels, such as some California Chardonnays, French Bordeaux whites, and some of the whites from Rioja, Spain. Winemakers have cleverly used different types of oak barrels to shape great wines in a variety of styles, creating more possibilities for the colorful world of white wine.
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