What’s the difference between American and French oak?

If you’ve been to a winery, you may have heard them talk about the type of oak barrels they used to produce the wine. Although a few different types of barrels exist, American and French oak are probably the most popular. But why do winemakers tell you which oak they use, and why is it important? And what’s the difference between American and French Oak? This wine guide dives into everything you need to know.

But first, why use oak?

When producing wine, winemakers have a choice of the type of vessel they use through the winemaking process. You can learn more about the differences in this article.

Probably the most well-known barrel for wine ageing is oak barrels. Here are some of the advantages of using them:

1. Oak adds flavour – the main reason winemakers use oak barrels is to add additional complexity to the wine. Depending on the factors listed above, having the wine in contact with oak as it ages adds flavours to the wine such as vanilla, nuttiness, spice or even coconut.
2. It allows for oxygenation – although a lot of oxygen exposed to wine isn’t good, some exposure is good as it allows a smoothing, softening and rounding out of the wine.
3. Oak can add structure – Exposure to the wood in oak barrels can add tannins and texture to the wine over time, depending on how old the barrel is.
4. It allows for malolactic fermentation – Wines aged in oak go through secondary fermentation known as malolactic fermentation which adds additional tastes and flavours, along with a creamy texture.

The downside of oak is the cost, as it is more expensive than using stainless steel tanks. They also aren’t able to be reused indefinitely and do need to be replaced every couple of years.

However, oak is a popular choice for winemakers who want to add flavours and textures to their wine. This is why oak is often used with red wines to help soften them, and also some white wines that benefit from malolactic fermentation such as Chardonnay.

Different types of oak

So we know that winemakers can use oak barrels, but there is a lot of difference between oak barrels too. This can include things like how many times the barrel has been used, the toast on the barrel (how much it’s been charred), and also the type of oak used.

There are many different types of oak barrels, and there are some barrels that aren’t made of oak, instead being made of woods such as acacia. However, the most common types of oak barrels used are French and American oak. Both these oak barrels are common, but impart very different flavours in the wine. So let’s dive into the differences between the two.

French Oak

French oak is grown in several regions of France, including central France and the Limousin and Allier forests. Here are some of the key characteristics of French oak:

• Grain structure: French oak has a tighter grain structure than American oak which means its impact on the wine is more subtle.
• Flavour profile: Higher presence of tannins, vanillin, and other phenolic compounds leads to notes of caramel, coffee, spice, and floral elements.
• Tannins: Imparts firmer but silkier tannins and provides a smoother mouthfeel.
• Cost: Higher than American oak.

French oak tends to have smoother, more elegant flavours which bodes well for many of the richer noble grapes like Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, or Chardonnay. French Oak is used in Burgundian reds and whites as well as Bordeaux blends.  The most important part of this is that these aromas and flavors don’t overpower the grape but compliment it. But this does come with a higher price tag for winemakers.

American Oak

American oak grows primarily in the eastern region of North America. Here are some of the key characteristics of American Oak:

• Grain structure: American Oak’s wood grains are wide and prominent, creating a greater surface area for the wine to interact with, and allows for greater oxidation during aging.
• Flavour profile: Has a higher lignin content, which contributes to the stronger flavors of vanilla, coconut, and dill. These flavours are usually more present and intense.
• Tannins: Less tannins than French Oak.
• Cost: Cheaper than French Oak.

American Oak barrels are often used to age bold and full-bodied wines like cabernet sauvignon, zinfandel and some Australian shiraz and, of course, whisky. The more intense flavour profile that American oak imparts on the wine compliments these big, bold wine styles nicely.

In summary: What’s the difference between American and French oak?

So now that we know what the difference is between American and French oak, which is better? Well, as with many things in wine, it really depends. Winemakers choose the type of barrel they want to used based on the type of wine they want to produce, so whether or not you prefer one over the other really depends on what style of wine you like to drink. Neither is technically better than the other (although the French may argue otherwise), but they are simply different. Each has it’s own place in producing the wines we love to drink.