What is the Standard Size of a Wine Barrel?
The standard size of popular wine barrels can hold about 225 liters (59 gallons). These types of barrels have systematically become the standard barrel size all across the world. These barrels, known as a Barrique barrel,
The standard size of popular wine barrels can hold about 225 liters (59 gallons).
These types of barrels have systematically become the standard barrel size all across the world. These barrels, known as a Barrique barrel, are the ideal size for the perfect wine-to-oak ratio. These types of barrels are also favored due to their transporting ease, their stacking ease, and their ability to be rolled around the cellar when necessary.
The other types of barrel sizes that are commonly used, include the 500 liters, which is almost double a barrique size. These barrels are more commonly seen with Italian varieties and lighter red wines that don’t require intense oak flavor.
The larger barrels allow for slower maturation of the wine while maintaining the primary fruit flavors. This is why it is the barrel of choice with wines like Sangiovese, Barolo, Barbera and Pinot Noir.
When it comes to how many bottles of wine is in a barrel, a barrique barrel size allows for about 300 bottles. This is not a large number if you consider that some wine barrels in Rhone Valley hold up to 700 liters of wine.
When choosing an oak barrel for a winery, it is crucial to consider how much oak is required in the wine and whether these barrels are required to be transported often or not.
