Oaking Your Wine
Oaking - Types of Oak and Timing of Adding Oak to Your Wine:
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Type of Oak
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When to Add
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How Long to Expose
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Comments
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Oak Extract
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After Fermentatin
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Instant Results
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Lacks full oak character
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Oak Powder
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Before or After Fermentation
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Results in just hours
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Fast – Can be handy in touching up your wine
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Oak Chips
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After Fermentation
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Days
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Quick Results, unless put in mesh sack must rack wine to remove
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Oak Cubes
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After Fermentation
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Weeks
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Direct in wine, drill holes & hang on fishing line or put in mesh sack
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Oak Spirals
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After Fermentation
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Weeks
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Easy to put in and out of a carboy by hanging on fishing line
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Oak Staves
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After Fermentation
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Months
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Easy to put in and out of a carboy by hanging on fishing line
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When oaking sample your wine to determine when you have exposed your wine to the oak long enough, but keep in mind some of the oak taste and character will dissipate over time, so oaking for a little longer past when you think it is done is recommended by many vintners.
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