Cellaring Wine Fact Sheet

Wine Cellaring Products Fact Sheet

by The Beverage People

After the harvest season is over, winemakers start thinking about the future. The fermentations are done, everything is sulfited, and the wine is in storage, so what comes next? At this point, we all stop and ask ourselves... Do I need oak? At The Beverage People, we like to say “winemaker’s choice” when asked something like that because you get the final say on these decisions. Our job is to help you understand how you can use our products to turn a good wine into a great wine!


Cubes/Staves


 

 What are they?

American or French oak pieces that have been subjected to various levels of toasting. Both cubes and staves can be added directly to wine without first being sanitized.

 

How much should I use?

Cubes should be used at rates of about 2 oz. per 5 gallons to provide average oak flavor, or 3 oz. per 5 gallons to provide strong oak flavor. One bag of Staves provides a level of oak equivalent to 1/3 of a new 60 gallon barrel.

 

Medium toast vs. dark toast?

Medium toast is a less intense toasting which keeps the oak closer to its natural flavor - woodier and more tannic. 

Dark toast provides more flavor complexity due to higher levels of wood breakdown products such as vanillin, and contains less tannin.

 

American oak vs. French oak?

American oak typically has a lighter, fruitier character with flavors of coconut.

French oak has a somewhat richer, spicier character with notes of cinnamon or nutmeg.

 

How long do they last?

Cubes and staves stop contributing flavor after three months in your wine, though most of the flavor is extracted in the first month. They cannot be re-used.

 


Tannin Extracts


 

 What are they?

Powdered extracts from different sources that provide high tannin content.

 

We sell two different tannin products:

StellarTan G,  a grape skin and seed extract for enhancing tannin structure and some fruitiness in wines lacking body,

Tannin Riche, a dark toasted french oak powder for enhancing mid-palate oak character in red or white wines, and

 

How much should I use?

For each 5 gallon batch:

StellarTan G: 0.5 to 2.5 grams.

Tannin Riche: 0.5 to 1 gram for white wines, or 0.5 to 3 grams for red wines.

 

For all additions, we recommend starting with the lower addition rate and building up to the desired level in order to avoid overdosing.

 

When should I add them?

StellarTan G can be added as soon as the first racking after primary fermentation. Early additions will provide relatively greater color protection. Less is needed near bottling.

Tannin Riche can be added at any time during storage and aging but no later than three weeks before bottling.

 

ITEMS FROM THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY BE FOUND BELOW OR IN THE SHOPPING AREA OF OUR WEBSITE.