Everything you need to know about wine barrels

There are hundreds and hundreds of things to say about wine barrels: their primary purpose is to store wine and allow it to age within wine cellars, but today we're going to discover all the secrets and things you can do with them. In fact, some people even go so far as to do DIY restorations and use them to add a little something extra to their cellar's decor!

But where did the barrel of wine come from?

One might assume that France, the country best known for its wine, would be the one that developed the wine barrel. But no! As we explained in a previous blog post on the origins of wine , it goes back much further than that. We owe our first barrels to the Celts, who developed the barrel around 350 BC .

It was a simple way to preserve wine , but also to transport it across Mesopotamia , which at the time was a major trade route for a lot of things, whether spices, gold coins, and alcohols of all kinds.

Today, we have less use for them, as everything is transported on pallets for large distributors, or in bottles to supply supermarkets or restaurants. The wine barrel is still widely used by winemakers to age wine in their cellars, in order to maintain the traditional approach.

What is a wine barrel made of?

This is a question one might ask, especially when starting out with aging wine over several years. Wine barrels are made of oak , and for several reasons:

• Oak is easy to work with and is flexible: bending it into a curved shape is much easier compared to other woods.
• It is an abundant wood : widely used by the Romans, it was easily accessible and inexpensive to produce.
• It's waterproof : indeed, not all woods have this ability to block liquids; on the contrary, they will weaken. Oak was therefore perfect for this!

As a side note, the Romans stole the idea of ​​using oak for wine barrels directly from the Gauls . The Gauls stored beer in them, but the wood being very specific, it made the wine sweeter and lighter, therefore much more suitable.

How many liters can a barrel of wine hold?

There are many different types of barrels, even containers, for red or white wine. A standard wine barrel can hold 250 liters of wine, but sizes vary, and therefore can hold more or less liquid.

Many people use barrels to transport and age large quantities of wine for several years. That said, many winemakers and wine cellar owners prefer the simple bottle , as it is easier to transport and, above all, to enjoy with friends, family, or colleagues.

How to restore a wine barrel?

To properly prepare for the upcoming discussion on all the possible uses of a wine barrel, let's start by assuming we're all on the same page, with a brand new barrel in mind. Don't worry, there's absolutely no need to buy one from a wine merchant or specialist; you can also restore the one(s) you already have. It will require a bit of work and some DIY skills, but it's entirely possible as long as you have the right tools.

You will need something to remove the fasteners around the hoops that will unify the wooden boards, something to sand the wood, a wire brush and something to reduce the circumference of the rings: these having aged for a lot of years, they have surely lost their shape.

1. Remove the rings

We'll start by dismantling the wine barrel by removing the hoops that surround it. On a standard barrel, there will be six hoops, each with three fasteners. To remove them, gently tap each fastener with a hammer until they come loose. Once the top three hoops are removed, you can turn the barrel upside down and repeat the process.

Important: Remember to mark the location of each item you remove or move! It will be much easier to put it back together later.

2. Sand the wood

Now that everything is ready, and your boards are all separated, you can sand the wood of the wine barrel. Don't use a sander that's too powerful: the wood is still relatively thin. We recommend 36-grit sandpaper; that will do the job perfectly.

This process will be long... very long. Expect to spend 5 to 8 hours sanding the 21 slats that will make up the barrel, if not more (or less, we hope for you!) depending on the model of the wine barrel.

3. The top and bottom of the barrel

For these two items, you'll need to be careful: a wine barrel doesn't have glue, at least not a standard one. The planks might separate, but ideally, you should keep them together to make the job much easier.

Start sanding; you can use an electric sander if necessary, it will be much faster than using slats. The hole at the top of the barrel may have changed shape (slightly) over time. You can take this opportunity to round the edges by hand, or ideally, use a tool to make perfectly round holes.

4. Clean the hoops

It's possible that rust has taken hold on the rings of your wine barrel. You'll need to move on to the crucial step of cleaning. A standard wire brush will do the job, but ideally, use a power tool which will make the task much easier.

You can take this opportunity to give small taps with a hammer here and there to correct imperfections in the shape of the ring, so that you really have a finished product that looks completely new once reassembled.

5. Assemble the barrel

Now comes the tricky part: if you can, get someone to help you, and take the opportunity to gather as many sturdy pliers as possible because you'll need more than enough. One thing to note above all:

• If the top and bottom of the barrel are at the tops of the slats, keep them aside and add them at the end.
• If the top and bottom of the barrel are inside the slats, insert the bottom part first, then the top part before assembling the slats.

Anyway, let's get to the heart of the matter.

• Start by sorting the rings by size
• Install the slats starting with the smallest one, at the bottom of the barrel, while keeping the larger rings around it. Consider using pliers or having someone help you; it will make the job easier.
• Once each slat is properly installed, reinforce everything by hammering on the slightly larger hoop, once the barrel is upside down.
• Next, add the other rings , working your way up little by little.
• Pull the top of the barrel to install it in its original position, and secure everything by retrieving your hammer and attaching the last rings.

To simplify things, start from the bottom, secure with the top hoop, install the top, or work your way up little by little, while securing the top and bottom.

6. Paint the rings

Since it's made of a standard metal, you can use any paint as long as it's durable. Choose a color that brightens up the gray , or go for something more original, like red, for example! You could even incorporate the color of wine (red, white, or yellow) through the hoops.

7. Varnish your barrel

Now, it's a matter of personal taste, but you can choose the varnish shade that suits you best and apply it to all the wood that makes up your wine barrel. Let it dry, and there you have it: you're ready to welcome your best wines into your new wine barrel!

Other uses of the wine barrel

Some people will prefer this wooden barrel for much more than just aging their wine . We can give you a few ideas here; some are quite original, others you're probably already familiar with!

• A bar table: many people already do this, but if your barrel is relatively tall, it can become an excellent counter!
• An outdoor flower pot to house a maximum of colors in the garden
• Cut in half lengthwise, some people use it as a small wine cellar
• In terms of length, it can become a very original chest.
• As for the width this time, you can make a doghouse out of it, and keep the other part for a stool
• Simply add locks to the lid, and there you have it: a very original trash can.

In any case, we hope you now know much more than when you first arrived at the wine barrels: you know where it comes from, how to care for it, restore it, and use it wisely! If you're thinking of restoring it soon, consider attaching a small loop to the side or top to hold your best corkscrew , ready to use for enjoying the finest wines !

How to invest in a wine cellar?

If you have a passion for wine and barrels of all kinds, you should know that it's possible to invest in fine wines through investment groups like Cavissima. With this type of service, you do n't need to live near a winery or in a wine-growing region.

Indeed, everything happens online; simply choose a plan and your bottles, and you don't even need to store them at home. Your wine collection is managed by Cavissima under the best possible conditions, ensuring its value increases so you can resell or enjoy it when it reaches its peak.

Why invest in wine?

It's important to understand that this type of investment is driven by passion. You don't invest in a wine cellar to get rich, even though you can generate significant profits. Wine is a safe haven asset ; when you choose the right bottles, you can be sure they will appreciate in value. Furthermore, even if you're still learning and just beginning to appreciate wine, you can still invest. True professionals are available to help you manage your cellar and maximize your returns.

A second advantage is that you don't even need to choose a grape variety; you can invest in white wines from the Rhône, Bordeaux, Burgundy, and so on—only fine vintages, selected to satisfy you. It's therefore an excellent way to combine a passion for wine with an investment . And if you no longer wish to sell your bottles, you can, of course, have them delivered to your home and enjoy them with friends.