Suber Oak International Information

Suber Oak Group International is an Australian company, started in NSW in the late 1980's before moving to the Barossa Valley in South Australia in 1990. Soon after relocating to the Barossa, Suber Oak began to research the production of toasted oak products in a form that could be used in winemaking as an alternative to traditional barrels. Initial trials of adjunct manufacture consisted of crudely (by today's standards) toasting oak shavings and reclaimed, spent wine barrels from cooperages and wineries. Suber Oak quickly determined, however, that optimum results could be obtained by sourcing high quality oak from the best French and American forests (Jupilles Bercé Forest, Tronçais Forest, Jura / Burgundy Forest and Pennsylvania); seasoning in the places of origin; then further seasoning in Australia prior to processing into the various 100% natural oak products used by today's winemakers. The use of these Oak Adjuncts gives winemakers great flexibility in extracting a range of flavours from the oak at considerable savings. Suber Oak's 'Traditional', 'XOV' (vanilla) and 'XOS' (special) style products offer winemakers a choice of, or combination of, three distinct flavour profiles. The 'Traditional' toasting process mimics that of barrel toasting, the 'XOV' toasted products highlight the vanillin and sweet flavours and the 'XOS' toasted products highlight high vanillin and aromatics with subtle spicy oak. The aim always is the delivery of harmonious, elegant flavours without overpowering the wine.