VERY INTERESTING: BARRELS

 Hello ladies and gents this is the Viking telling you that today we are talking about 

Barrels

Oak barrels, for almost all of recorded history, have been used for making wine and also for transporting it. Barrels made of wood have been used from the time of the Romans. When the Romans invaded Gaul, they found the oak barrel being used.

They found that the oak wood barrel could be easily made since the wood was easier to bend. Another reason was that oak was plentifully found in the forests, making it the ideal choice of material.

They then found that aging made the taste of wine better. The wine became softer and additional flavors could also be imparted. Soon they discovered that used wine barrels would make the wine age well. The more time they kept it in an oak barrel, the greater the wine quality would be.

We have some interesting and even weird facts about oak barrels. These facts will help you find out more about oak barrels, which will help you if you want to get into oak barrel aging.

16 Facts about Barrels

1. It is the preferred mode for aging

For the aging of wine, the oak wood barrel is most preferred. Whether it is used wine barrels, used bourbon barrels, or used whiskey barrels, you will find that oak barrels are preferred.

2. There is a reason for the barrel shapes

You may have wondered why the oak barrels are shaped in the way that they are. There is a reason for that. The shape is convenient to roll the barrel, making it easy while transporting. At the same time, the shape is convenient even to store it upright and pack it in, making storage of dozens or even hundreds of barrels practical.

3. Do you know who a cooper is?

If you need an oak barrel, you need to purchase it from a maker. The person who makes these barrels is known as a cooper. Some of the barrel makers even use ‘cooper’ as their surname.

4. Do you know why people started using barrels?

When the Roman armies set out on conquests, they needed wine to be taken with them. During Roman times, they stored wine in amphorae made from clay or other types of pots. The amphorae would break easily, causing wastage. The wine then began to get wasted. To solve this problem, oak barrels were used as wine barrels since they were easy to transport.

5. Oak introduces vanilla in the wine

When oak is used to make the barrel, it adds vanillin over time, along with many other substances. All these help to add a unique, delightful flavor to the wine. This is one of the many reasons why the oak barrel is preferred.

And as always have a chilled day from the Viking