Wine Additives - Oak

Oak Chips are a quick, inexpensive way to impart some oak character to your wine.  Larger oak pieces, like nuggets and staves, actually aid in the aging process by allowing the wine to penetrate slowly into the complex interior of the oak exactly the way it would do in an actual barrel.  They help balance and cross-link tannins and promote color stabilization if used during fermentation.  High tech toasting produces a color gradient throughout all the complex layers of the oak resulting in a mellow, not harsh palate structure.

Light Toast - Sweet but spicy oak notes with lingering hints of honey and vanilla.
Medium Toast - Smooth and creamy vanilla, caramel, coffee, toasted bread and a subtle sweet, spicy oak aroma.
Heavy Toast - Smokey, spice, caramel, chocolate and a sweet, spicy oak aroma.