Ep 244 – The Art of Silver Oak: Cabernet, Cooperage & American Oak with Laura Oskwarek, Director of Winemaking

episode

EAT SLEEP WINE REPEAT: A Wine Podcast Exploring Wine Regions, Grapes & Education not yet transcribed

▲ 0

Transcript

This episode hasn't been transcribed yet Upvotes decide what gets transcribed next — 0 so far. Sign in to upvote

More from EAT SLEEP WINE REPEAT: A Wine Podcast Exploring Wine Regions, Grapes & Education

Ep 275 - Spanish Wine Beyond Rioja: Vino de Pago, New Jerez, Bobal & More with Sarah Jane Evans MW 1h 5m · 17 Aug 2026

Ep 274 - What Does It Take to Become a Top Sommelier? Inside the UK Sommelier of the Year Competition with Emma Denney, 2026 Winner 1h 2m · 10 Aug 2026

Ep 273 – Oregon Wine Beyond Pinot Noir: The Regions, Grapes & Wines You Need to Know with Samantha Cole-Johnson 58 min · 03 Aug 2026

Ep 272 - Counterfeit Wine & Wine Fraud: Could Your Wine Be Fake? With Maureen Downey 53 min · 27 Jul 2026

Ep 271 - Washington State Wine: The Ultimate Wine Road Trip Through America's Hidden Gem 1h 3m · 20 Jul 2026

Ep 270 - Bordeaux Beyond the First Growths: How to Find Great Value in Fine Wine with Michael Saunders 58 min · 13 Jul 2026

All episodes from EAT SLEEP WINE REPEAT: A Wine Podcast Exploring Wine Regions, Grapes & Education →

Report any issue

Source

Recorded22 Dec 2025

Publisherfeed.podbean.com ↗

Handlerec:14850189

Show notes

In the final episode of the year, Janina is joined by Laura Oskwarek, Director of Winemaking at Silver Oak, to explore one of the most fascinating (and often overlooked) elements of winemaking: oak. Together they taste and compare Silver Oak’s Napa Valley and Alexander Valley Cabernets, dive deep into Silver Oak’s unique in-house cooperage, and unpack everything from tree selection and seasoning to toast levels, sustainability and style. A rich, geeky and festive deep dive into Cabernet, craftsmanship and the people behind one of California’s most iconic wineries. Shownotes 03:32 Laura’s scientific background - from microbiology and Yale to winemaking. 04:52 Choosing wine as a career: the moment wine replaced medicine. 06:32 Early lessons from Schramsberg and Nickel & Nickel - teamwork, terroir and patience. 11:55 How Silver Oak has evolved over the years - sustainability, innovation and precision. 14:18 Precision viticulture explained: data, technology and giving each vine exactly what it needs. 15:45 Water management at Silver Oak - recycling systems and the famous purple hoses. 17:55 Owning their own cooperage - why it’s so rare and why it matters. 18:56 How a tree is chosen to become a wine barrel - straight trunks, diameter and quality. 20:56 Missouri oak vs French oak - grain, flavour profile and why Missouri stands out. 24:39 Seasoning vs toasting - what they really mean and why they’re not the same thing. 28:16 Choosing oak for flavour and texture - matching seasoning and toast to the wine style. 32:24 How far can you push oak? Experimentation, blind tastings and finding the limit. 33:43 Janina’s tasting notes: Alexander Valley vs Napa Valley Cabernets. 35:04 Tasting comparison: Silver Oak Alexander Valley vs Napa Valley Cabernet - fruit profile, structure, oak and power. 38:19 Inside Silver Oak’s toasting area - fire pits, slow toasting and craftsmanship. 40:02 Roasted marshmallow and caramel - the aromas of toasted barrels. 42:30 How much does a barrel cost and how long does it take to make one? 45:13 Another key difference between American and French oak - sustainability and efficiency. 46:20 Climatic differences between Alexander Valley and Napa Valley. 49:01 Where to buy the wines in the UK current vintages and pricing at The Wine Treasury £132 Alexander Valley Cabernet 2020 and £240 Napa Valley Cabernet 2020 50:28 Being a woman in wine - leadership, mentorship and cultural change. 52:44 A joyful harvest memory - costumes, sparkles and a true “glitter moment.” 54:39 American oak in one sentence. 55:16 Napa or Alexander Valley - where is the magic right now? 56:03 Toast levels: light, medium or heavy? 56:19 Cabernet pairing - steak or dark chocolate? 56:53 One wine region everyone should visit next. 📩 Questions or feedback? [email protected] 📸 Instagram: @eatsleep_winerepeat 🎥 YouTube: Eat Sleep Wine Repeat 🌐 Website: www.eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk Until next year – cheers to you! 🥂 THE EAT SLEEP WINE REPEAT PODCAST Featured in Decanter Magazine and Radio Times, and ranked among the Top UK Wine Podcasts by Feedspot. RECOGNITION: – Finalist, 67 Pall Mall Award for Best Global Wine Communicator in Audio (2025) – Shortlisted, IWSC Emerging Talent in Wine Communication (2025) – Ranked #18 in 2024 and #22 in 2025 on Drinks Retailing’s Most Influential People in Drinks list

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.