Barrel Aging Process
updated 09/12/2023 A question was recently posted on WineMakingTalk, asking about the process folks use for their barrels. I wrote a reply, which formed the basis for this post. Following is my general process:...
Tagged: oak
Comparison of Oak Adjuncts
Updated 10/27/2022 Winemakers typically want to flavor their red wines, some white wines, and occasionally fruit wines with oak. It’s common to add oak adjuncts (products made of oak specifically for winemaking) to carboys...
Making a Big Red
Updated 08/21/2023 On WineMakingTalk, a lot of folks ask about making a “big red” or a “100 point red”. This makes sense — every home winemaker wants to make an amazing wine that is...
Fermentation vs Aging Oak
updated 09/11/2024 A common point of confusion among new winemakers is the usage of oak adjuncts in the winemaking process. Some are added before fermentation, some after fermentation, and there are numerous types: dust,...
How Long to Bulk Age Wine
“How long to bulk age wine?” is a common discussion / area of disagreement in home winemaking. Ask 10 winemakers, you’ll get at least 11 opinions. Note: In October 2018 I published a post...
Why Used Barrels?
I own two 54 liter barrels manufactured in 2010, making them 11 years old. Folks have asked me why I purchased used barrels. Let me count the ways (reasons): Benefits of Barrels in Winemaking...
Oak Stix Experiment
This post documents the background and progress of an experiment I am conducting using Next Level Oak oak kits. In this experiment I am comparing the effects of American, French, and Hungarian oak stix...