wein.plus
Attention
You are using an old browser that may not function as expected.
For a better, safer browsing experience, please upgrade your browser.

Log in Become a Member

Barrel

Term for a cylindrical container, usually bulbous, made of various materials such as wood, metal, plastic or ceramic for the storage of liquids. In viticulture, barrels are usually made of wood because this material is breathable and allows a controlled amount of oxygen to enter, which is generally desirable when ageing wine. It has an opening known as a bunghole for filling and emptying.

Holzfass / Fass mit Weintraube und Rotweingals

It can also be open on one side and is fitted with a lid. In the case of large drums, an access point in the base (drum latch) allows one person to clean the drum. The cylindrical shape enables effortless handling, moving and space-saving stacking. Barrels of different types and volumes play an important role with regard to the expansion. They used to be made by the cooper's trade. Today, however, wooden barrels are mostly produced industrially in companies known as tonnelleries. The historical development is described in detail under Wine Vessels.

Voices of our members

Dr. Edgar Müller

I have great respect for the scope and quality of the wein.plus encyclopaedia. It is a unique place to go for crisp, sound information on terms from the world of wine.

Dr. Edgar Müller
Dozent, Önologe und Weinbauberater, Bad Kreuznach

The world's largest Lexicon of wine terms.

26,537 Keywords · 47,072 Synonyms · 5,318 Translations · 31,870 Pronunciations · 222,201 Cross-references
made with by our author Norbert F. J. Tischelmayer. About the Lexicon

EVENTS NEAR YOU

PREMIUM PARTNERS