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

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? janina@eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk 📸 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) –