American Oak Barrel

American oak has improved throughout the ages, diminishing the concerns wine makers used to have using this type of barrel. Developments such as proper air drying, slow deep toasting and the use of oak from different forests have all helped in transforming the use of this barrel as well as the nature of this oak and gaining the wine makers confidence. It is quicker at making wines and new barrels are widely used for producing whiskey.

American oak barrels tend to be more intensely flavored than French oak with more sweet and vanilla overtones. American oak also releases compounds like oak lactones and vanillin at a higher rate than French oak. This is what gives wines aged in American barrels an "oaky" or "toasty” characteristic. The wood used to make these barrels is open air dried for around two years before being made into barrels which contributes to the quality of these barrels.

American oak is becoming a more highly used tool to bring out the best characters of wines, and it is just coming into its own for the wine maker who understands how and when to use it.

Under this category we also have Port wine seasoned barrels, vats and casks.

Please note that no wine barrels are warranted. Barrels are made of wood which is a natural product and therefore cannot be warranted for leakage or other defects. If a problem does arise, we will do our best to resolve it.