Jancis Robinson

European oaks

Appears in
Oxford Companion to Wine
Oxford Companion to Wine

By Jancis Robinson

Published 2006

  • About
These oaks grow throughout Europe, as far east as the Urals, as far south as Sicily, as far west as Ireland, France, and Portugal, and as far north as southern Norway.

Quercus petraea can reach a height of 25 m/82 ft and can live over 300 years. Branches form high up the relatively straight trunk. Wood from this tree is usually tight grained (see grain). This species grows well in sandy, silty soil with good drainage, but thrives in a variety of soils. In Europe it is found throughout the United Kingdom and from France east to Poland and the Baltic states and as far south as Italy and the former Yugoslavia. Austria and Hungary are increasingly prestigious sources of oak, mostly but not exclusively on home territory.