American Oak | Untoasted | Chips

Untoasted oak chips add structure to a wine by increasing its perceived mouthfeel. This is done through the infusion of the wood`s tannin into the wine. This tannin also help to stabilize the wine`s color and clarity by promoting the falling-out of unstable haze causing proteins.. They will allow you to imitate storing your wine in an oak barrel without the expense. The amount of Oak Chips you will want to use varies, but usually it will be in the area of 1 to 2 ounces for every 5 or 6 gallons of wine. The lesser of the amounts should be used in white wines. It is recommended that Oak Chips be added to a wine after the fermentation has completed and the wine has had time to cleared. Prepare Oak Chips before using by boiling in water for 15 minutes. Strain the chips off the water and then add the them directly to the wine. Allow the wine to age with the oak chips for 1 to 9 months. Monitor the wine`s flavor throughout the aging process to determine when to remove the oak chips.