Summary: French oak is utilized for premium quality white and red wines universally around the globe. This seminar categorizes the species of oak used for barrels and the French forests where oak trees are grown, principally Nevers, Allier, Tronçais, Vosges and Limousin. Leading tonnelleries or cooperage houses are reviewed along with production techniques such as splitting, seasoning and toasting. The importance of wood origin is compared to the cooper’s signature. Common barrel

Wine has been fermented and aged in barrels for centuries. Originally, it was just a convenient material from which to fashion vessels – a bit less cumbersome than clay, and a bit more flexible too. But in the 20th century, the flavour and character of oak became integrable to many popular wine styles, such as the red wines

Presenter: Lisa M. Airey CWE, FWS Lisa M. Airey, FWS, CWE, has thirteen years of experience selling wine at the wholesale level and in training both the sales force and wait staff.She sat on the Board of Directors for the Society of Wine Educators from 1998 to 2004 and co-chaired their Corporate Wine Training Committee which authored and edited the first SWE Certified Specialist of Wine Study Guide. She currently serves as Director of Education for the Wine