Hardwood Club looks at oak barrels

London Hardwood Club members have been given a run-down on the oak barrels market.

Nicholas Tarteret explained to members how forest management, sawmilling, stave production and cooperage worked together to produce a variety of barrels for the wine industry.

He said supply and demand in the wood barrels market has returned to balance.

Only about 2% of the world’s wine production is aged in oak, while oak staves are quarter-sawn for American oak barrels and split for French oak, which is widely considered to impart better flavour to wines.

Dark brown English oak is not usually acceptable for wine barrels because of its high tannin content.