Oak barrels are more than storage—they actively shape wine and whiskey by adding flavor, texture, and structure through slow oxygen exchange and the release of tannins. Winemakers favor oak for its ...

Rioja’s identity has long been tied to American oak. Now French oak, concrete, and amphorae are reshaping the region. Contributor. Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights.

Walk into almost any wine-tasting room on the planet and they will be there. Wine barrels. They may be stacked over there by a wall, or set on their tails with a piece of glass across the top making ...

All oak is not created equal. Here’s why the type of barrel used to age your wine matters and how it impacts what’s in your glass. Brian Freedman is a wine, spirits, travel, and food writer; event ...

This story is from an installment of The Oeno Files, our weekly insider newsletter to the world of fine wine. Sign up here. It’s been said that right behind grapes, wood is the second most important ...

For centuries, oak has been the winemaker’s and distiller’s collaborator, quietly transforming clear spirits and young wines into something worth savoring. Here’s how the magic unfolds. Oak barrels ...