Designation for wine ageing in small wooden barrels which, in contrast to conventional wooden barrels, are toasted on the inside walls. It is therefore a special form of barrel age ing with the aim of introducing wood and roasted flavours into the wine. Barrique ageing thus allows different flavours to enter the wine. The name is derived from barrique, the type of barrel mainly used in Bordeaux with a standard volume of 225 litres. However, larger barrels of up to 700 litres are also considered barrique barrels. However, up to which barrel size one can speak of "real" barrique ageing is regulated on a country-specific basis. As a rule, the barrels are made from oak from special oak trees, mainly from France and America (as well as local oak trees), but also from other types of wood such as acacia or chestnut.
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Thorsten Rahn
Restaurantleiter, Sommelier, Weindozent und Autor; Dresden