AMERICAN OAK
Quercus Alba
A wood representative of the essence of American elegance
TN Coopers sources this wood only from certified suppliers from the prestigious areas of Missouri and Pennsylvania.
American oak has gained notable acceptance among winemakers worldwide. This species can impart a high aromatic intensity to the wine with notes of coconut and vanilla, but contribute in a balanced manner to the robustness of the wine. The greater oxygen transfer and faster aroma release help wines lose their astringency and harshness sooner.
TN Coopers' careful craftsmanship in wood selection, combined with a meticulous preparation of the staves during the drying and toasting process, results in products that enhance your wines and spirits.
*We offer American oak from other forests upon request. Please check our availability.
ORIGINS
Pennsylvania: Elegance and Complexity
Pennsylvania oak is valued for its soft tannins and rich, full flavors. The tight grain structure, resulting from cold winters and mild summers, is key to softening the influence of tannins, offering wines with deep flavors of mocha, chocolate, and ripe dark fruits like blackberry, black cherry, and cassis.
The natural drying process for over 24 months in our wood park eliminates strong tannins, making the oak even more elegant for wine aging. Additionally, this oak can impart slightly smoky and tobacco characteristics, adding an extra layer of complexity to aged wines.
Missouri – Kentucky: Robustness and Diversity
The regions of Missouri and Kentucky, known for their history in the bourbon industry, provide an ideal environment for the growth of American oak. The combination of fertile soils and a longer growing season produces oak with a tight grain structure and more robust tannins. This facilitates greater oxygen exchange during aging, allowing for complex and balanced evolution of wines and spirits.
The flavors contributed by this origin are varied, from vanilla and spice notes to smoky and bacon flavors, through to ripe fruits like plum and raspberry. This organoleptic diversity allows producers to create wines with a robust structure and a long, elegant finish.
