Term for the French wooden barrel, but often also for barrique ageing (ageing in barriques). In France, the barrique barrel is also known as the "château model". This type of barrel is not only used for wine, but also for ageing whisky or beer. The name is said to be derived from barricade, as barrels filled with earth were used as roadblocks during the July Revolution in 1830 when the Bourbons were finally overthrown.
Originally, the relatively small barrique was purely a transport barrel for exporting wine to England. The pièce used in Burgundy and Champagne also has approximately this volume, as does the English oxhoft, which can be regarded as the forerunner of the barrique. The volume corresponds to a quarter of a tonneau at 900 litres.
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Dr. Christa Hanten
Fachjournalistin, Lektorin und Verkosterin, Wien