French scientists develop yet another way to use science to stop wine fraud.
Wine fraud and wine scandals have been making the news lately. Whether talking about Italian reds or fighting fraud in South Africa with new labels, it seems that both fraud, and ways to beat it, are at the forefront of the wine world’s mind.
During the aging process, wine is barreled while developing flavor. While most people do not drink wine that is French oak-barreled, but about 2% of premium French wines are and are bought for this reason. A specific fraud worrying French wine experts is passing off wine barrels as French oak when they are made from cheaper, Eastern European oak. French oak helps flavor wines with its tannins for a distinct mix of vanilla, smoke, caramel and clove.
