When farmers later transported this unaged corn whiskey, or moonshine, across the Ohio River for commerce, the spirit would age in its oak barrel containers, becoming infused with dark colour and complex flavour.

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There are certainly exceptions, some notable, but it is more than fair to say in a rather sweeping generalization that California chardonnays are devoted to a rich, fat, buttery style, with a heavy-handed use of oak barrel aging, resulting in a wine best enjoyed on its own or at cocktail parties, usually deep golden in color.

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If you want to bring the kids along, consider Barrel Oak Winery, a family-friendly operation where you can take your own picnic lunch.

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The team at Beronia uses a mixed barrel program to age the wines, which essentially involves using barrels with American oak staves and French oak ends, a hybrid barrel if you will.

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Within this standard barrel, Boswell had inserted ten slats of aged French oak.

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