IBWSS spoke with Jonathan Frost, MBA, DipWSET, Specialist for NOBILE at LAFFORT USA, ahead of International Bulk Wine & Spirits Show (IBWSS) 2026. He breaks down why more wineries - from premium estates to bulk and private label producers - are moving toward hybrid oak programs, and how "palate mapping" lets winemakers target specific structural gaps in a wine instead of just guessing at toast levels. Key takeaways for wineries: Alternative oak isn't leftover barrel-grade wood - it's selected and seasoned specifically for premium adjunct use Dosage systems vary widely (NBE%, g/L, staves per hectoliter) - most confusion around alternative oak comes down to misunderstanding NBE%, not the oak itself Repeatable wine styles come from deconstructing an oak program into foundational, heads, and aromatic profiles - not from chasing a fixed recipe every vintage The most common mistake is over-applying oak and tasting too early - evaluation timing (6–9 months for staves/inserts, 2–4 for b

Afternoon Brief: New US Alcohol Report Tainted by Bias, Conflicts

Broad Group of National Agriculture, Beverage and Hospitality Associations Urges Secretaries of USDA and HHS to Reject Findings...

IBWSS Show 2022 Is All Set to Happen in San Francisco 

Mark your calendars, the International Bulk Wine & Spirits Show 2022, is all set to happen at South San Francisco Center, San Francisco, on July 26-27, 2022.  27 May – […]