French Oak Barrels – Yes they come from France but what’s the rest of the story?
Barrel-destined oak trees ideally grow in cool climates, which gives them a chance to mature slowly and develop a desirable tight grain. Most of the French oak for barrels comes from one of five forests, some of which were originally planted during Napoleonic times for shipbuilding. The main forests, mostly located in central France, are Allier, Limousin, Nevers, Tronçais and Vosges, and each is considered to have distinctive characteristics. The trees are harvested when they are at least 25 inches in diameter. Usually, this means the tree is at least 120 years old. However it’s not uncommon to harvest trees that are 180 years old. Do the math, those trees started growing in the early 1800’s. WOW! After harvest, the oak is split not sawed and then ages in the open for 24-36 months. Only after that does the oak go to a cooperage(barrel maker) to be assembled into a wine barrel and then toasted on the inside. Finally, newly fermented wine is placed in the barrel to mellow out and absorb all those tasty oak flavors. Most red wines are aged 18-36 months in the barrel. Cheers!