THE CHALLENGE OF FRENCH OAK

Talking about ageing wine is like having a discussion on philosophy or literature. Centuries of history and tradition nowadays meet with technology and science. Different wine regions in the world have chosen their oak style and different producers can follow the general trend or not. From the forest where the wood is selected, to the toast level and the size of the barrel, oak can become an extremely complex matter.

In our region the historical big “botte” was challenged in the 80s. The Barolo Boys, a group of producers who intended to modernise the Barolo region as a whole, started experimenting with french barriques in the cellar. The “fight” between the Modernists and the Traditionalists was and still is a key factor in the evolution of our wine region. The result? Certainly a broader mind, more recognition and better wines, with the funniest thing being that all these factors have very little to do with the type and the size of the oak used in the cellar. I guess questioning tradition and challenging rules and habits will always be a good thing.

Photo was taken at Eisele vineyards in Calistoga, CA.