Oak wine barrels are easily one of the most
recognizable symbols associated with wine, and probably rank just below grapes
themselves. The history of how wine came to be stored and aged in these oak
barrels however, could have easily been something that happened in Asterix
comics.
For millennia, clay amphorae were the
medium of choice for transporting wine. Around two millennia ago, the Roman
civilization needed to transport not only weapons and food for its soldiers,
but also wine. Wine was safer than water during those campaigns, provided
calories for the malnourished troops and of course got them buzzed.
As the Romans moved further north into
Europe, transporting clay amphorae became increasingly more difficult. Soon,
the Romans encountered the Gauls, and discovered them using wooden barrels,
often made of oak, to transport beer. The Romans quickly realized they had
found a solution to their amphora issue, and oak barrels became popular for a
number of reasons!
Nowadays, we have a lot of options in wines
starting from the price range, type, category, quality, quantity and so on.
However, oak-aged wine is one of the most preferred and among the most expensive
in the world. Oak just makes wine taste better! During a wine’s contact with
oak barrels, it will take on characters that are extracted from the wood. These
characters are described as, smoky, char, vanilla, spice, clove, coconut,
almond, caramel, buttery and burnt. As these aromatic compounds are extracted
during the oak aging process, the compounds will become integrated with the
wine aromas. Winemakers associate this with increased flavour complexity and
the wines richness and suppleness. Oak
staves, oak chips and oak cubes are smaller and can use all sides to add aromas
to wine.
Every great wine maker agrees the best
wines are made in the vineyards. To make great grapes, wineries focus on
bringing down yields to ensure the wines are more intense. Oak is one trait of
wine that one finds in most of the retail outlets and restaurants. Most of
these 'super premium' wines are red - as 'reserve' wines are aged in imported
oak barrels for a longer period for anywhere between 5-18 months, and reds
benefit more from oak-ageing than whites. This wine is one of the few wines
championing the use of much more locally sustainable Indian oak grown in Nasik.
One day, the country's reputation will match the quality being produced, and
India will be ready and waiting with a host of super-premium wines.
Although, the market for the high-end
wine in India is minuscule compared to many other countries, there has been a
growth for the last 5 years, and there are over 100 wine brands available in
the market. Now, Indian wine consumers are getting more sophisticated, educated and
diverse in their wine choices and are open to spending up to two to three
thousand for a bottle of super-premium wine. There are many Indian super
premium wines priced above Rs. 800 and are definitely worth a try!
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