Classic Oak Products are leaders in supplying French Oak barrels to Australian wineries.
With oak forests covering more than 20% of Hungary, healthy, tight grained and compositionally desirable oak trees are abundant. Our main supplier of Hungarian oak barrels is Trust Cooperage, which sources its oak from their carefully managed forests located in Hungary’s Zemplén and Mecsek forests. They harvest two different species of oak, quercus robur and quercus petraea providing winemakers with a variety of options to suit their needs. Quercus also offers a range of oak adjuncts and alternatives made from Hungarian oak.
Quercus robur is well suited to provide wines with a fuller body and larger tannin structures. On the other hand, quercus petrea is more favourable for producing wines with aromatic character and minimal tannin levels. These two species also grow in France, but the Hungarian climate facilitates the cultivation of oak staves that are able to impart rich sensations of weight and texture in the middle of the mouth.
Hungarian oak is typically favourable for varietal and fruit-forward wines, allowing for a subtle oak characteristic. Ideal for medium-bodied wines including Tempranillo and Sangiovese, as well as being an alternative option for Shiraz and Chardonnay, offering flavour hints of butterscotch, vanilla, clove, cinnamon, roasted coffee and toffee.
Our suppliers of French oak products provide a broad variety of different toasts, grains, seasoning times, barrel sizes and more. To determine which oak products are most suitable for your specific winemaking needs, contact our team today for more information.
Classic Oak Products has a unique position in the Australian and New Zealand Wine Industries, offering high quality French oak products. With over 30 years of expertise within the Australian and New Zealand wine industry, Classic Oak Products are part of the Tonnellerie Francois Freres (TFF) group, supplying barrels made in some of the most prestigious cooperages. We can ensure your wines achieve the structure and complexity you desire through a variety of French suppliers.
Our team is local and has in-depth knowledge of, and an appreciation for, the unique challenges present across our regional climates and Australian environment.
Contact your local Classic Oak team member to see how we can help you or to request a price list for our French oak products.
