In the 19th and 20th centuries, wine was almost exclusively fermented and aged in wood vessels made from oak, acacia, and other woods, which imparts tannin for structure, flavors of cinnamon and ...

Making a barrel by hand is a precise science. And one family business in southern Spain has been perfecting the process since 1975. Tonelería Herfe makes thousands of artisanal wooden barrels for ...

American Oak: An alternative to French oak for making barrels in which to age wine. Marked by strong vanilla, dill and cedar notes, it is used primarily for aging Cabernet, Merlot and Zinfandel, for ...

But not just any barrel — a foudre. A foudre is a massive wooden vat that impacts and preserves the overall taste of the wine. Making a foudre starts with French oak, a tightly grained wood that ...

We met John, a fellow homebrewer who, mid-conversation, dropped his baby’s pacifier, rinsed it in champagne and put it right back in the baby’s mouth as he told us about ...

A Chardonnay aged in oak barrels or casks can be a real delight. The grape variety, which tends towards apple notes and is ...