Wine oaking is an ancient process that is usually the final step in production of a wine. Finding oak barrels for sale that allow you to oak and age your wine prior to bottling is easy now that you have the opportunity to shop online. However, not all oak barrels for sale are created equally and it is important to understand the different types of barrels and what flavors they impart on the wines.
Construction Materials
Virtually all oak barrels for sale online or in retail stores are going to be made of either American oak or French oak. In general, using American oak tends to produce a slightly sweeter flavor profile to the wine that may include vanilla like flavors. French oak, on the other hand, tends to impart less sweetness but an increasing fruit or spice element to the wine. Some French oak barrels also provide a slight flavor of almonds that is a good balance for a lighter wine that is going to be aged longer.
Why Oak Barrels?
When you visit Harvest Express for oak barrels for sale, you will find that there are new barrels and used barrels. As a good guideline to follow, a barrel that has been used repeatedly with produce a less favorable wine. Most oak barrels for sale, that have been used more than three to five times, are sold as decorative items and not for actually aging wine.
Surprisingly enough, barrels that have been used to age wine are a popular option for those aging whiskey or bourbon. Often these barrels will be charred on the inside to produce a smoky flavor that is very distinct for that specific brand.
Sizes of Oak Barrels for Sale
There are many different sizes of both American and French oak wine barrels for sale. They go from a small three-gallon size, perfect for the home wine maker, to the much larger 59-gallon and bigger options. Typically, larger sizes are only used in wineries and in large commercial productions.
Finding new or used oak barrels for sale can be difficult, but shopping online can make finding all the supplies that you need simple. Be sure to buy from a company offering a good selection so you can get just the size that you need!