April 24, 2025
French Oak Mineral ToastCarefully selected French Oak air dried for an extended period followed by hot water treatment to soften tannins and reduce harshness. Toasting at low temperature limits the development of high notes of spice, smoke, char, ellagic and gallic acid resulting in a profile that is delicate with notes of vanilla and stone fruit, backed with flint, wet stone and a sense of minerality. For use in fermentation or finishing white and red wines.

April 24, 2025
Product Release - French Oak Mineral ToastWe are excited to introduce a new stave toast profile, Mineral Toast, designed to bring an enhanced sense of minerality to white and rosé wines. This innovative toast profile significantly impacts the sensory characteristics of wine, influencing its interaction with fruit and other elements during the winemaking process.
Minerality in wine is often attributed to specific terroirs, rooted in the soil and environment where grapes are grown. While traditionally linked to the vine’s interaction with soil minerals, minerality can also be shaped by winemaking techniques—including the use of oak.
Mineral Toast staves utilize carefully selected French Oak air-dried over an extended period. The wood undergoes hot water treatment to soften tannins and reduce harshness, followed by extended toasting at a lower temperature. The gentle process avoids the formation of high notes such as spice, smoke or char, resulting in a delicate profile featuring hints of vanilla, stone fruit, flint, wet stone, and pronounced minerality.
Key Features of Mineral Toast
1. Comparing Mineral Toast Staves to Water-Bent Barrels
Water bending in crafting barrels involves soaking oak staves in hot water to enable gentle shaping without cracking. The result is a smoother, less intense oak influence compared to traditional drying methods. This approach allows the natural flavors of the wine to take center stage, imparting structure while preserving the wine’s fruit and terroir expression.
- Minerality Impact: The gentler influence of water-bent oak provides a delicate backbone, allowing the wine’s inherent mineral qualities to shine.
2. Extended Low-Temperature Toasting
Toasting the oak over an extended period at low temperatures ensures a controlled release of compounds without the development of intense oak characteristics.
- Sensory Implications: This method avoids sharp, toasty, or smoky flavors often associated with high- temperature toasting. Instead, it provides structure, pallet weight and volume that enhance texture and minerality, supporting the wine’s freshness without overshadowing its natural characteristics.
3. No Char for Subtle Oak Influence
By omitting the charring process, Mineral Toast staves offer a more neutral oak influence.
- Sensory Implications: Without smoky or caramelized flavors, the oak imparts structural qualities like enhanced mouthfeel and tannin support while complementing the wine’s acidity and minerality. This approach allows for a cleaner, more focused expression of the grape’s terroir.
Application
The Mineral Toast profile is particularly suited to wine styles and grape varieties that benefit from restrained oak influence:
- White Wines: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, and Viognier will showcase enhanced minerality, pallet weight and freshness.
- Rosé and Light to Medium-Bodied Reds: Pinot Noir, Grenache, Tempranillo, Gamay, and red blends will experience softened oak influence, allowing minerality to shine without overshadowing the wine's delicate characteristics.
Conclusion
The Mineral Toast stave profile is a sophisticated tool for winemakers seeking to highlight the natural minerality of their wines. By utilizing extended low-temperature toasting without charring, this profile preserves fresh, mineral- driven notes while adding depth, texture, and complexity. It offers an elegant and balanced approach to winemaking, enhancing the wine’s expression of terroir and providing new opportunities to craft wines of distinction.
SAMPLES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
809 BLACK DIAMOND WAY, LODI CA 95240
WWW.OAK-WISE.COM
SALES@OAK-WISE.COM
(209) 224 5353
November 14, 2024
Enhance Your Winemaking with Oak Wise’s Oak Adjuncts
Oak Wise’s oak adjuncts—like chips, cubes, staves, and spirals—offer winemakers a versatile, efficient way to infuse wines with the rich flavors and structure traditionally achieved with oak barrels, but with greater control and speed.
Why Choose Oak Wise Oak Adjuncts?
- Customization & Precision: Adjust flavor profiles precisely, adding subtle vanilla, toast, or tannins to fit your unique style.
- Faster Extraction: Maximize surface contact for rapid infusion, significantly reducing aging time while still achieving complexity.
- Consistency You Can Count On: Enjoy reliable flavor results across vintages, allowing you to confidently replicate your best wines.
- Sustainable Alternative: Using fewer oak resources than traditional barrels, Oak Wise supports a greener winemaking process.
Oak Wise’s Range of Products
Oak Wise offers chips for fast flavor infusion, cubes for a balanced profile, staves for extended depth, and spirals for nuanced, layered flavors. Each option provides a tailored approach, empowering you to enhance and customize your wines.
Ready to elevate your winemaking? Explore Oak Wise’s oak adjunct solutions to add distinctive character to every bottle.
July 24, 2023
Mitigating Smoke Taint
Oak Wise conducted a study on the effect of mitigation and amelioration techniques on smoke tainted wine grapes and finished wine. Our objective is to present methods to help mask or balance smoke characteristics in wine by introducing oak ellagitannins or cherry wood tannins at three stages of wine development:
- addition before primary fermentation
- addition before malolactic fermentation and
- addition in finished wine/pre-bottling
Results of the study showed that treated wines contained a significantly lower level of perceived smoke attributes with an enhanced overall quality in finished wine.
Click here for the complete technical paper: Oak Wise Technical Paper - Mitigating Smoke Taint.pdf
May 25, 2023
Oak Wise's Extensive Product Line of Aqueous Oak TanninsAre you blending wine and need help improving the final product? Oak Wise has an extensive product line of aqueous oak tannins that can be added to wine up to 48 hours before bottling.
To receive samples of NATAN call our office at (209) 224-5353 or Mel Coronado at (209) 200-1438.For full product range visit: Natural Aqueous Tannins | Oak Wise (oak-wise.com)
April 19, 2023
Oak Wise Products to Ameliorate Smoke TaintDecember 6, 2021
Oak Wise Launches Unique Infusion Adjuncts and Oak TanninsOak Wise is pleased to announce the launch of Unique Infusion Series oak alternates and natural aqueous tannins. Unique Infusion is a line of oak adjunct for the wine and spirits industry designed to provide rapid results at high dose rates over short time periods.
The new products are; Biscuit, Confection, Cookie Jar, Croissant, Pastille, and Spice Rack. Infusion Series is focused on flavor and aroma expressions that can stand alone or be used as part of a blend. All six products are crafted from cooperage quality American and French Oak, seasoned 24-36 months prior to toasting. Formats are available in chips, dominoes and tank staves.
In addition to the adjuncts, we are releasing (NATAN™) – Premiere Biscuit the first in the Unique range of Natural Aqueous Oak Tannins. Our aqueous oak tannin can assist in increasing the aromatics, flavor, and structure of oak characteristics before bottling. Biscuit will be available in January 2022.
This package contains Unique Infusion oak chips, staves, and NATAN™ Unique Biscuit.
For technical assistance please call Mel Coronado at 209-200-1438 or email at mel.coronado@oak-wise.com
August 20, 2021
Tastry and Oak Wise to Release AI-Assisted Smoke Impact Analysis Program
As part of a collaborative effort with Oak Wise and their combined clients, Tastry is developing a method for minimizing the effects of smoke taint on the finished wine. Through its state-of-the-art laboratories, Tastry will provide testing and analysis services to help vintners quantify smoke taint and apply Oak Wise products for better blending. Having this collaboration at a critical time when wineries are being threatened by wildfires and the impact, they will have on production is crucial.
Katerina Axelsson, CEO of Tastry, said, “Tastry is committed to doing its part in helping wineries navigate what’s expected to be another detrimental fire season in California. We have been helping our winery clients incorporate Oak Wise products into their production for the past year, and we are very pleased to now share some new and very promising artificial intelligence (AI) -assisted techniques incorporating the latest products from Oak Wise to assist winemakers in reducing the perception of smoke taint in the finished wine.”
Winemakers have historically faced significant economic and environmental losses due to the smoke taint-the result of smoke compounds absorption through grape skin. Oak Wise and Tastry both help wineries minimize their damage due to wildfires.
Brian Spillane, Oak Wise Vice President, said, “Many winemakers approach smoke taint by trying to remove the compounds immediately after fermentation, which can be costly and often ineffective. Our company is developing methods that will reduce cost with products and techniques that do not remove or strip the positive attributes in wine.”
Using Tastry’s Compublend™ algorithm, winemakers can go beyond understanding the extent of smoke taint present in their wines and quickly and easily find out which wines are tainted. With Compublend™, winemakers can utilize consumer palate data to form blending results that maximize value and identify how to maximize salvageable fruit. Oak Wise is also highly effective at masking smoke-affected aromatics and redeveloping the taste of wine after previous smoke treatments.
August 6, 2021
Mitigating Smoke Taint in Red Wine Using Oak Ellagic and Cherry Wood Tannins
Oak Wise conducted a study on the effect of mitigation and amelioration techniques on smoke tainted wine grapes and finished wine. Our objective is to present methods to help mask or balance smoke characteristics in wine by introducing oak ellagitannins or cherry wood tannins at three stages of wine development:
- addition before primary fermentation
- addition before malolactic fermentation and
- addition in finished wine/pre-bottling
Results of the study showed that treated wines contained a significantly lower level of perceived smoke attributes with an enhanced overall quality in finished wine.
Click here for the complete technical paper: Oak Wise Technical Paper - Mitigating Smoke Taint.pdf
July 23, 2021
Smoke Taint Amelioration Protocol Utilizing Aqueous Ellagitannins in Finished WineOur purpose is to present a method to help winemakers successfully reduce the detection of smoke taint in finished wine.
Contact Mel Coronado for any questions or technical support
(209) 200-1438
mel.coronado@oak-wise.com

May 17, 2021
Oak Alternatives Made to Enhance and Develop the Complexity of WineOak Wise Infusion Series is a range of oak alternative formats uniquely crafted for the wine industry. They are designed to provide rapid results by enhancing and developing the complexity of wine. The toast profiles have been created to extract at high dose rates for short time periods. Recommended dosage range is 3.0 – 5.0 g/L for up to 30 days. Available formats are chips, dominoes, and staves. To request samples visit our website at www.oak-wise.com.
March 24, 2020
Oak Wise Inc Is Still in Operation – With Some RestrictionsOak Wise Inc. is considered an essential business by the state and will remain available to accept requests and orders to serve the alcohol industry during this trying time.
However, to protect our customers and staff the following changes to our operations will take place effective immediately and will continue through the pandemic as the shelter-in-place directives are in effect:
Our office and warehouse are no longer available to the public. Our office will remain locked throughout business hours. Orders will be couriered via LTL carrier or parcel carrier. Orders can be picked up from our warehouse by our customers by scheduled appointment only.
All orders are to be placed with as much lead time as available. Our staff will be coming in to pull essential orders only. Samples can be requested; however, same day service is no longer available. Please email your request and expect 1-2 business days processing on top of standard transit time.
Please note there are already nationwide delays in transit for parcel and truck carriers. Please keep this in mind when ordering. FedEx has marked many shipments as undeliverable to shelter-in-place zones; e.g. a shipment destined to San Francisco was marked as undeliverable and had to be re-routed to ship center for customer pickup. Another example is LTL carriers are postponing pickups and have some shipment loading delays exceeding 5+ hours for sorting essential and non-essential shipment loads. We thank you for your patience during this time as shipping delays may be outside our control.
*International customers are advised to contact their customs brokers prior to ordering to verify if shipments can be cleared to cross borders.
We encourage our customers to evaluate their immediate needs through the next few months and order as soon as they possibly can. As of now we are still able to accommodate orders and ship them, however, if the parcel and truck shipping companies change priorities we might lose our ability to accommodate customer’s needs.
We will send updates regarding changes to operations as the situation evolves.
Please contact daniel.dooley@oak-wise.com for warehouse, order and sample related requests or mel.coronado@oak-wise.com for technical advice and sales.
Our office line is available during standard business hours (209) 224-5353 if you have any questions.
Thank you for your continued business. Our team at Oak Wise hopes for your continued health and safety during this time.
January 24, 2020
Oak Wise's Natural Aqueous Oak Tannins Displayed at UnifiedOak Wise will be showcasing their Natural Aqueous Tannins at their booth. These will be small aromatic samples to showcase the potential that NAT brings to beverages. Oak Wise will also be discussing the results with their oak adjuncts and NAT products in different trials and applications. We will also be happy to offer technical advice for your beverage applications and happy to answer any questions. Oak Wise also is happy to offer discounts for new customers visiting the booth.
Oak Wise, Inc.
UWGS Booth: C1437
Oak Wise is a leading producer of quality oak and oak derived products supplying a diverse section of the beverage industry. We source raw material of high quality sourced from the same forests as for barrels. Oak Wise offers technical and customized advice by our team of product specialists. We also pride ourselves in consistency achieved by total control of our production processes.
November 6, 2019
Oak Alternatives: From Forest to BottleOak Wise sources oak directly from managed forests in France and the eastern United States then carefully ages it at company owned facilities in the country of origin. Having resource control and our own production facilities allows us to innovate and produce consistent high-quality oak products for beverage makers.
As well as producing a wide range of oak alternates we produce 100% Natural Aqueous Tannins that give winemakers, brewers, and distillers complete control over all the important organoleptic and structural elements that oak brings to beverages.
Contact us for samples and pricing
www.oak-wise.com
sales@oak-wise.com
(209) 224-5353
August 22, 2019
Oak Adjuncts - Taste the Difference
Oak adjuncts can be added at any stage of winemaking to improve the sensory characteristics of wine.
Our profiles range from our regular standard toasts to a high impact rapid extraction ‘Pinnacle’ toast and to our subtle ‘Low Tannin’ toast.
Our Product Portfolio Includes:
House: fresh roasted nuts, sweet mouthfeel, butterscotch, nutmeg and subtle smoke.
Classico: baked bread, vanilla, and adds a creamy texture.
HiVan: high notes of vanilla, fudge, honey, a hint of spice and pastry notes.
Complex: spice, nutmeg, roasted nuts, caramel, butterscotch and toasted oak.
Mocha: chocolate, coffee, mocha, cream.
French and American Oak Adjuncts are available in Lodi, CA. We produce and offer oak chips, ‘tablets’, dominoes, barrel inserts and tank staves.
Please email Mel Coronado at mel.coronado@oak-wise.com for pricing and questions today!
Or phone the office at (209) 224-5353
Oak Wise is a leading producer of quality oak & oak derived products supplying a diverse section of the beverage industry with an extensive range of oak alternates in formats from oak chips through to tank staves and barrel inserts.
July 1, 2019
OAK WISE – OUR OAK PROFILESOak Wise is a major producer and supplier of oak adjuncts represented worldwide in the beverage industry. We have quite a large range of toasts in a range of formats from oak chips through to tank staves and barrel inserts. By combining four elements in the toasting of oak for oak alternates – temperature, duration, humidity, and air-flow – Oak Wise is able to offer beverage makers five distinct flavor profiles that directly impact aromatic and structure of your finished wine.
American and French Oak Profiles: House, Classic, HiVan, Complex, and Mocha
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The descriptors of each our profiles can be seen on our website: www.oak-wise.com
Please call us at our office at (209) 224-5353 for pricing or to request samples.
Oak Wise Is a Leading Producer of Quality Oak & Oak Derived Products Supplying a Diverse Section of the Beverage Industry with an extensive range of oak alternates in formats from oak chips through to tank staves and barrel inserts.
May 31, 2019
Oak Alternatives: From Forest to BottleOak Wise sources oak directly from managed forests in France and the eastern United States then carefully ages it at company owned facilities in the country of origin. Having resource control and our own production facilities allows us to innovate and produce consistent high-quality oak products for beverage makers.
As well as producing a wide range of oak alternates we produce 100% Natural Aqueous Tannins that give winemakers, brewers, and distillers complete control over all the important organoleptic and structural elements that oak brings to beverages.
Contact us for samples and pricing
(209) 224-5353
April 24, 2019
Natural Aqueous Oak TanninsOak Wise NAT Premiere and Finissage can be used as finishing hydrolysable ellagic tannins and are appropriate for use in white, red and rose wines. They are recommended for addition up to 48 hours prior to bottling. These products offer easy adjustments of mouthfeel and enhancing flavors, aromatics, and other organoleptic and structural elements in wine.
Premiere is a range of oak tannin enhances the oak profile in a finished wine. Made from the same high-quality American and French Oak we supply in our oak alternates.
Finissage is a range of oak tannins which improve the structure, weight and length of a wine.
Please contact Mel Coronado at mel.coronado@oak-wise.com or (209) 224-5353 for pricing and questions or if you'd like more detailed technical information and samples!

January 18, 2019
Showcasing Natural Aqueous Oak Tannins
We will be showcasing our Natural Aqueous Tannins at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium. We will also be discussing the results with our oak adjuncts and NAT products. We will also be happy to offer technical advice and discounts for new customers visiting our booth. There will be sample kits available, as well as printed information to take with you.
Also be sure to drop off a business card for our raffle. One lucky winner will receive an Oak Wise Timbuk2 Vault Backpack! We will be at booth 2003!






