Hungarian Oak and the Trust Cooperage
Trust – Premium Hungarian Oak Barrels
Trust Cooperage is the biggest producer of oak barrels in Hungary. The brand was previously known as Demptos in Australia, despite always using the Trust Cooperage name within Hungary. The company previously only developed staves for the USA, moving into oak barrels and other products after a few years in business.
Their staves were very well regarded across the USA and in France, causing the company to grow exponentially. In 2000, the company formed a partnership with Francois Family Cooperage, so they used the Demptos Hungary. Classic Oak Products oversaw distribution in Australia, which already had the Demptos branding established.
Trust celebrated its 25th Anniversary in 2017, and in that time they have produced over 300,000 barrels. They ship globally to 40 different countries, and their product lines have expanded to include oak alternatives under the Quercus brand name.
Trust is renowned globally in the “traditional varieties” of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Cabernet, and Merlot.
Read more about the Trust Cooperage and the products available.
Difference Between Hungarian Oak and French Oak
Hungarian oak is not fundamentally different from French oak, as they are of the same species of oak. However, France is geographically larger than Hungary and thus, has more forest and oak to cultivate, so the industry is consequently larger.
European oak mostly comes from two species’ – Quercus robur and Quercus petraea. Quercus petraea is known for its aromatic character and the low tannin level that it imparts to the wine.
Quercus robur, on the other hand, provides a fuller body and larger tannin structures, giving less complexity and elegance than Quercus petraea. Forests in Hungary and France grow both species, including hybrids of the two. These two species are quite distinct from Quercus alba (American oak) in the flavours they impart.
The differences between French and Hungarian oak arise mostly due to growing conditions from differences in climate. Management conditions also differ due to Hungary’s oak industry being on a much smaller scale.
While subtle, the main difference is that Hungarian oak imparts a richer sensation of weight and texture in the middle of the mouth. Hungarian oak is typically better for varietal and fruit-forward wines. It can produce premium wines with a more subtle oak characteristic.
The origin of the oak is only one factor that has an impact on the flavour of wine. There are other factors that have a significant impact. The age of oak is important, with newer oak imparting more aroma and flavours into the wine. The level of toast also has implications for the intensity of the aroma, as well the size of the barrel.
History of Hungarian Oak
Hungarian oak is widely known throughout the world, and especially throughout Europe. With a long history of forest management going back over 500 years, the oak industry in Hungary is renowned for its quality. The two main species of oak in Hungarian forests are Quercus robur and Quercus petraea.
Hungarian oak saw its peak in the 1800s when there was a shortage of oak and barrels in Western Europe. This was mostly due to a supply shortage in France, as such, an alternative supply was imported from Hungary. However, due to the lack of modern infrastructure, and communism in Hungary, the barrels were never imported out of Europe.
After the fall of communism in 1989, the Hungarian oak barrel market was reinvigorated. As the market boomed, barrels were imported en masse to the United States, Australia, and China. However, in Europe Hungarian oak has always been in the background, influencing alcoholic beverages for a long period of time. These days, the barrels are used for beer and spirits as well as wine, showcasing the versatility of the Trust Cooperage barrels.