Barriques

Barrique is a type of oak barrel used for aging wine. The standard capacity is 225 liters (about 59 gallons), a size that became traditional in French winemaking and is closely associated with wine from Bordeaux and Burgundy. The term barrique simply denotes a small barrel, and its use has spread worldwide in modern wineries.

Barriques are constructed from oak staves held together by metal hoops, with circular heads. They are typically made from either French oak (primarily Quercus robur and Quercus petraea) or American oak (Quercus alba). The choice of oak influences the wine through flavor compounds and tannins, with French oak often contributing spice and toast notes, and American oak adding stronger vanilla and coconut tendencies. Barrels are toasted on the inside, and the level of toasting can be light, medium, or heavy, affecting aroma and mouthfeel.

A key effect of using barriques is controlled micro-oxygenation, due to the wood’s porosity. The barrel’s small size also increases the surface-area-to-volume ratio, accelerating extraction of oak-derived flavors and tannins and aiding integration with the wine. Aging in barriques is chosen to shape aroma, texture, color, and structure, and is influenced by the winemaker’s approach, wine style, and vintage.

Barriques are reusable, though their performance diminishes with each cycle as leaks and flavor contribution change. Many wineries use them for several vintages, then replace them when the oak influence becomes too strong or the barrel no longer provides the desired quality.