Barrique

225 litres (59 gallons) Origin: Bordeaux, France

Commonly used for aging both red and white wines, particularly in Bordeaux and many New World regions. The barrique is known for imparting significant oak influence due to its relatively high surface area-to-volume ratio.

Pièce

228 litres (60 gallons) Origin: Burgundy, France

Standard barrel size in Burgundy, used primarily for aging Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Similar in size to the barrique, but specific to Burgundy winemaking traditions.

Tonneau

900 litres (238 gallons) Origin: Bordeaux, France

Larger than a barrique or puncheon, the tonneau is used for aging wine when a more subtle oak influence is desired. It's less common than the barrique but still used in certain winemaking practices.

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Other Sizes

Bordeaux Hogshead

300 litres (79 gallons) Origin: Bordeaux, France

Slightly larger than a barrique, offering a more subtle oak influence due to the lower surface area-to-volume ratio. It is used for longer aging or for wines where less oak flavor is desired.

Hogshead

300 litres (79 gallons) Origin: Australia

Common in Australia for aging wines, particularly Shiraz. Like the Bordeaux hogshead, it offers a more moderate oak influence compared to smaller barrels.

Puncheon

450-500 litres (119-132 gallons) Origin: Various regions, including Australia and Spain

Larger than a barrique or hogshead, puncheons provide a softer oak influence due to the lower surface area-to-volume ratio. They are often used for aging wines where oak is desired but not dominant, such as certain Chardonnays or red wines with longer aging times.

Demi-Muid

600 litres (158 gallons) Origin: Rhône Valley, France

Common in the Rhône Valley and other French regions for both fermentation and aging. Due to its larger size, it imparts less oak influence compared to smaller barrels, making it suitable for wines that need subtle oak integration.

Butt

475-500 litres (125-132 gallons) Origin: Jerez, Spain (also used in Portugal)

Traditionally used for aging sherry and port. Butts are larger barrels that allow for slow aging and gentle oxidation, contributing to the development of complex flavors in fortified wines.

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Italian Botti

Botti are large oval vats (1,000-10,000 litres) traditionally used in Italy for fermenting and aging wines, particularly in regions like Tuscany and Piedmont.

Botti allow for long aging with minimal oak influence, ideal for preserving a wine’s natural characteristics. The barrels are so large, old and many-times used, that the oak impact on the wine is virtually null.

The use of Slavonian oak, a much more neutral wood than French or American oak, results is a maturation that is all about oxidation.

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Frence Foudre

Foudre are very large wooden vats (2,000-10,000 litres), used for fermenting or aging wine.

Foudres provide minimal oak flavor due to the large size, but they allow for slow oxidation, contributing to the development of complex wine textures and flavors over time.

Origin: France and Germany (Rhône and Alsace)