Short definition
Maturing wine in oak barrels to add flavor, soften tannins, and allow controlled oxygen exposure.
Oak barrels are not just containers — they are ingredients. New oak adds vanilla, toast, and spice. Used oak adds texture without strong flavor. French oak is subtle; American oak is bolder. The winemaker chooses barrel size, age, and toast level to sculpt the wine. Twelve months in new French barriques produces a very different wine than six months in large used casks.