barile

Barile is an Italian noun meaning a large container used to store and transport liquids, especially wine, oil, or water. A barile is typically a cylindrical cask made of wood, often oak, or a modern variant of metal or plastic. It is closed by staves held together with metal hoops. The capacity of a barile varies by tradition and region; historical barili ranged from a few dozen liters to several hundred liters, with the wine trade commonly using sizes around 100–225 liters in various countries. In viticulture and distillation, barili are used for aging, fermentation, or storage, and their material, cooperage, and size can influence flavor and oxidation.

In Italian, the plural is barili and the singular is barile. The term can also appear in expressions such as barile di vino. The word barile is etymologically linked to a broader family of European barrel terms, deriving from historical forms such as baril or barillet in neighboring languages.

Barile also denotes a place: Barile is a town and comune in the province of Potenza, in the Basilicata region of southern Italy, known for wine production and historical centers. The town connects to trade routes across the region.