In the article on winemaking, we covered the topic of aging red wine, which begins in barrels and then ends in bottles. If you are wondering what are the different types of barrels, what is the difference between barrique, tonneaux and barrel or how much wine they contain, keep reading and we will answer all your questions! Wine barrels, in fact, are not only storage vessels, but real “tools” that influence the maturation of wine, giving distinctive characteristics to its structure, taste and smell.
What are the different types of barrels?
There are different types of barrels: the first major categorization is about material. In most cases, the material used for barrels is wood, which in turn can be Oak (the most widely used), Chestnut, Cherry, Acacia, Walnut, Birch, and it usually comes from France, Slovenia, or America. Originally, however, barrels were made of concrete to preserve the characteristics of the grapes; currently, some wineries adopt concrete barrels to age some wines.
Next, barrels differ in size: there are small barrels, that is, barriques and pièces and tonneaux, and large barrels.
Finally, they also differ in terms of toasting – a practice that consists of burning the inside of the container – which can be more or less durable and intense.