Hi:

How much oak you add should be tailored to your tastes. Some put a
bunch of oak in and taste till there's enough and then remove the oak
or rack wine off the oak to stop oak infusion.

Others add small increments untill they arrive at the level they want.
I subscribe to the this camp.

I add oak at the primary in a hops bag, usually 0.1oz per gallon.
That oak is carried forward to the secondary. When the wine is rack
off the gross lees from the secondary another 0.1oz per gallon in
addition to the first chips. Then more oak is added in 3 or 4 week
periods at the 0.1oz per gallon to taste. I carry all of the chips
forward untill the final racking for clearing then bottling.

Persoanlly I find adding chips to the primary a good thing and yes
it's noticable. And I like to carry all of the chips till the last
racking. Based on my trials I think (no science here) it gives better
integration and a finer oak flavor than the all in one approach.

Of course YMMV

Steve



On Thu, 16 Apr 2009 03:22:17 GMT, Jim > wrote:

>Can you please tell me how much oak chips to add to my primary
>fermenter when making red wine? I am using Arôbois’ oak chips medium
>toast and medium size which I purchased from Scott Laboratory.
>Thank you in advance.