Oak toast suggestions

[TahoePowderHound]

I am a long time cider/beer/mead brewer finally doing my first wine. I purchased 150 lbs of Zinfandel from a vineyard with 100 year old vines as part of a group buy. I’m still punching caps for the next few days, and doing a concurrent/simaltaneous malolactic fermentation. Does anyone have any suggestions for oak? I plan to use cubes but would love any suggestions as far as American/French, roasts or blends etc. And what ratio of oak per gallon do you like? Thanks in advance!

 

[jgmillr1]

This is where your specific take on your wine can really shine and be unique. The question is: what do you like in YOUR wine? American oak offers more tannin and vanilla, when medium toasted. French oak could be a nice option for depth and finish.

Cubes are better than chips which are better than granular oak, but absolutely nothing is better than a barrel. This is because oak chunks in sitting at the bottom of a glass carboy only will impart an oak flavor but can never substitute for the micro-oxidation that occurs with the wine breathing through barrel wood.

With your 150# of grapes (about 10 gallons of wine), I'd suggest you buy a 5 gallon barrel of your choice and rotate the wine into it over the next year. You will be absolutely amazed at the wine you make.

 

[TahoePowderHound]

This is where your specific take on your wine can really shine and be unique. The question is: what do you like in YOUR wine? American oak offers more tannin and vanilla, when medium toasted. French oak could be a nice option for depth and finish.

Cubes are better than chips which are better than granular oak, but absolutely nothing is better than a barrel. This is because oak chunks in sitting at the bottom of a glass carboy only will impart an oak flavor but can never substitute for the micro-oxidation that occurs with the wine breathing through barrel wood.

With your 150# of grapes (about 10 gallons of wine), I'd suggest you buy a 5 gallon barrel of your choice and rotate the wine into it over the next year. You will be absolutely amazed at the wine you make.

Awesome, thanks jg!