Oak chips finally accepted throughout Europe...

Just before Christmas, on 21 dec, the EU voted through a total of six winemaking practices until now associated much more readily with the New than the Old World.

- the use of oak alternatives such as oak chips and inner staves to smooth texture and deepen flavour in wines without the costs involved in buying casks and barrel maintenance.

- the anti-oxidant ascorbic acid may now be added to musts as well as wines, as is so commonly done in Australia for example.

- mannoproteins (a new entry in OCW3!) may be added to stabilise wine.

- charcoal may...