Oaking Your Wine


Oaking - Types of Oak and Timing of Adding Oak to Your Wine:
Type of Oak
When to Add
How Long to Expose
Comments
Oak Extract
After Fermentatin
Instant Results
Lacks full oak character
Oak Powder
Before or After Fermentation
Results in just hours
Fast – Can be handy in touching up your wine
Oak Chips
After Fermentation
Days
Quick Results, unless put in mesh sack must rack wine to remove
Oak Cubes
After Fermentation
Weeks
Direct in wine, drill holes & hang on fishing line or put in mesh sack
Oak Spirals
After Fermentation
Weeks
Easy to put in and out of a carboy by hanging on fishing line
Oak Staves
After Fermentation
Months
Easy to put in and out of a carboy by hanging on fishing line
 
When oaking sample your wine to determine when you have exposed your wine to the oak long enough, but keep in mind some of the oak taste and character will dissipate over time, so oaking for a little longer past when you think it is done is recommended by many vintners.
 

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