Everyone knows that barrels are used in wine making. But have you ever wondered what the inside of a wine barrel looks like? I thought for today that we should take a look at the inside of a wine barrel! Are you game to see what can be found?
You know what a wine barrel looks like, don’t you? Just in case you have not seen one, this is what a barrel looks like!
A used wine barrel
Now all that coloring you see on the sides is due to working with the barrels during the wine making process. This barrel was used for making a red wine. The approximate volume of this barrel is 60 gallons, which would convert to 25 cases of wine.
Now let’s cut this barrel open to see what the inside looks like. When cutting a wine barrel, mark the wine barrel midway so you get an even cut and take your time. Here we are using a jigsaw to cut the barrel in half.
Cutting open a wine barrel
With the barrel sliced through with our jigsaw, let’s pull the pieces apart. Think of this as cracking an egg on a larger scale…
Pulling the barrel apart
What is that inside the barrel? Let’s take a closer look shall we?
What is that inside the split barrel?
What you see inside the barrel are called “staves.” In the wine making process these staves trap the sediment which are a natural by-product in wine making. Pulling these out of the barrel gives you a better view of what they look like. The ring holds them together at a specific interval, and staples are used to hold them to the inside surface of the barrel.
They are called staves
Let’s take a peek at what these staves look like close up, shall we? The staining is from the red wine that was stored in this barrel, and you will see some of the residue of the wine making process still stuck to the staves!
Staves up close
Now, lets take a good look inside of this barrel now that the staves are gone. It’s too bad you are not right here with me because the aromas from this barrel are almost intoxicating! Let’s check it out!
The inside surface of the wine barrel
Now let’s take a closer look, OK? Take note of the staple. That is just one of the few that hold the staves in place inside the barrel.
Up close inside the barrel
Well, I hope that you enjoyed this short trip inside a wine barrel with me! Now I am ready for a glass of wine. You?
Thanks for dropping in today! Enjoy your Tuesday and may the day be terrific for you!
Life in the Foothills 
Hi Barb. I’m a bit late for “happy hour”, but that was a very interesting look inside a spent wine barrel. I like the cracked egg comparison. I can picture what a handsome planter the half wine barrel would make. BTW, what kind of wood is used to make wine barrels? And is each barrel used only once in the wine making process? Taking this route to comment because the regular format would not process. Kept asking me for a valid email address. Perhaps I was tardy and the commenting window was already closed is what I surmised. Not a problem. I just didn’t want to miss the chance to comment on the unique look inside a wine barrel and to say thank you for sharing. Now I have another layer of appreciation and understanding when I have a glass of Merlot with my dinner….medicinal, but I enjoy the taste, color and buzz. haha Aloha, Roy
Thank you for the comment Roy! The wine barrels are made of Oak. Some are Hungarian Oak, others are French and American. The life of the barrel is approximately 4-5 years. A barrel may be used twice, and in between they are cleaned to remove all of that residue that you saw inside. It gets blasted out with high pressure washing.
Darn, the smell didn’t come through my laptop! 🙂 That was fun.
janet
It was lovely too, wasn’t it? 🙂
Amazing! I had no idea!!
Most folks don’t so I am glad that you found this amazing as I did too when I went to work for the winery!
A fine wine educational post. 🙂
Cheers!
Thanks RoSy! I am raising my glass to your cheers!
Fascinating… but too early for wine…. even for me!!!
OK — are you having a glass now? I will raise a glass with you! I actually wait until 5 where I live, but stating I was ready for a glass was apropos for the post!
Thanks for the pictorial tour of a wine barrel. I think most folks have never seen the inside “workings” of one. Usually we see them already cut in half waiting to be bought at a garden center to be used as a planter box. I can imagine the wonderful aromas emanating from the wood after it was cut open. I have also read that many distillers, those making whiskeys, will use old wine barrels, burn the inside, and then age their whiskey in the barrel. Their use of the old wine barrels with the wine infused oak adds to the flavor.
Thank you for your comment! If you buy a barrel do not treat the wood! It could kill the plants!