What role does oak aging play in Austrian winemaking?

Austrian winemakers are not calculating when using oak aging; they employ large foudres and small oak barriques to give the oak sugars and textures to their masterpieces. Some wines are oak aged long enough to gain depth and tannic structure, while others are fermented in stainless steel tanks for vibrant vibrancies and flavor footsteps. This way of´ balancing ensures that oak is not overused in producing Austrian wine, but rather, it supports the style and character of the wines.