French Oak. The oak forests in France are the source of several species of European oak trees including white oak used for oaking wine. French Oak (Quercus robur) is common throughout Europe and Sessile Oak (Quercus petraea) is a finer grain species that is more sparse. The top fifty most expensive wines in the world oak-age their wines in some way. Oak is a crucial and often overlooked component of the wine world. Everything from the type, size, age, grain and treatment of an oak barrel greatly affects the finished wine. Most oak tree leaves sport a deep green hue during the summer months, but transform into red and brown colors for the fall. 1  The oak tree is one of the most colorful fall trees, which is another reason they are popular in many types of landscaping today. Behold the breadth of the oak family. There are approximately 600 individual species listed in the Quercus (Oak) genus--most are trees, though a few are shrubs. Some are deciduous, some evergreen, some semi-evergreen. Most Common Oak Trees. Below is a list of oak tree types that are the most commonly planted. You’ll find that most oaks are massive in size and not suitable for urban or suburban landscapes. Image by ollirg. By Jackie Carroll. Oaks (Quercus) come in many sizes and shapes, and you’ll even find a few evergreens in the mix. Whether you are looking for the perfect tree for your landscape or want to learn to identify the different types of oak trees, this article can help. Northern Red Oak Quercus rubra. The northern red oak has been called “one of the handsomest, cleanest, and stateliest trees in North America” by naturalist Joseph S. Illick, and it is widely considered a national treasure. It is especially valued for its adaptability and usefulness, including its hardiness in urban settings. Oak is the common name for several hundred species of the genus Quercus with a wide variety of trees. They are native to the northern hemisphere and include both deciduous and evergreen species. Evergreen species are commonly called live oak and are not a distinct botanical group. It is the national tree of Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Oaks were considered sacred by the Celts, and the name of their priests, druid, comes from the words for oak and for knowledge. Oak trees grow slowly to a mature height of one hundred feet with a spread of fifty to eighty feet. Hungarian / Eastern European Oak. Hungarian and Eastern European oak is the same type of oak tree as French Oak (Quercus robur). More and more Eastern European oak barrels are being used at wineries for oaking wine. The choice for Eastern European oak is because it’s remarkably similar to French oak but the cost is much less. The top fifty most expensive wines in the world oak-age their wines in some way. Oak is a crucial and often overlooked component of the wine world. Everything from the type, size, age, grain and treatment of an oak barrel greatly affects the finished wine. The common name oak may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus. The genus is native to the Northern Hemisphere, and includes deciduous and evergreen species extending from cool temperate to tropical latitudes in the Americas, Asia, Europe, and North Africa. North America contains the largest number of oak species, with approximately 90 occurring in the United States. Mexico has 160 species, of which 109 are endemic. The second greatest center of oak diversity is China, which contains approximately 100 species. 1 The Crouch Oak is believed to have originated in the 11th Century and is located in Addlestone, Surrey. 2  It is an important symbol of the town with many local businesses adopting its name. 3  It used to mark the boundary of Windsor Great Park. 4  Legend says that Queen Elizabeth I stopped by it and had a picnic. French Oak is very popular for oak aging premium wines. It tends to add flavor compounds (see below) more subtly than the other main types of oak. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are an ideal match for French Oak because they ‘soak up’ flavor more easily than other varieties (such as Cabernet Sauvignon). The top fifty most expensive wines in the world oak-age their wines in some way. Oak is a crucial and often overlooked component of the wine world. Everything from the type, size, age, grain and treatment of an oak barrel greatly affects the finished wine.
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