Wine in barrels – since when and why?

Oak barrel is one of the most recognizable symbols associated with wine. The barrels themselves and the process of aging wine in them are so surrounded by a romantic halo that from discarded barrels we make tables, frames, plaques, benches…

But the use of barrels for storing and aging wine was not someone’s conscious invention, historically, and recently. For many centuries this role was fulfilled by clay jugs (amphorae).

As the wooden barrel replaced the amphora?

More than two centuries ago, when the Romans actively expanded their Empire, they wanted to take a hike not only weapons and food, but the wine: it was much safer to water as a drink and also added calories to the meager soldier’s diet. And, of course, bestowed upon positive drinking of intoxicating euphoria.

A few thousand years – since at least ancient Egypt – clay amphorae were used for transporting wine merchants and military, including the long transportation. Was civilization – in particular, on the territory of Mesopotamia, where it was used barrels made of palm wood, but these were exceptions, not the rule. Although palm barrels and weighed significantly less clay amphora, palm wood is very badly bent.

The practice of using amphorae continued in ancient Greece and later in Roman Empire. But as you move the Romans to Northern Europe, to carry amphorae became more and more troublesome affair. The Romans knew about the existence of palm barrels, but their price and the difficulty in handling such wood makes them not too attractive replacement. When the Romans encountered the Gauls, they were confronted with their wood – often oak – barrels, in which they transported the beer.

The Romans quickly realized that I had found the solution to your problem with amphorae.

On the material auditioned different types of wood, but the oak eventually became the most popular for several reasons.

Why are barrels for wine oak?

First, its wood is much softer and easier to bend many in the traditional barrel shape, compared to the same palm tree. So, oak required the minimum firing, and the barrel is made much faster.

Second, there was a lot of oak in the forests of continental Europe.

Thirdly, the dense texture of oak wood makes it a preferred candidate for the storage capacity with good water resistance.

The transition to wooden barrels occurred rapidly. In less than two centuries tens of millions of clay amphorae out of goods.

What is the use of guilt from oak?

The contact with oak wood makes the wine softer. Some wines in the impact of oak flavor in General gets better.

Povezav some time, wine in barrels, the Romans, and later other wine lovers, find that oak barrels give the wine an interesting new qualities. Some unimportant wine is simply pleasant to drink, and some good wine acquire a special character.

Very careful when burning wood, the aroma of wine under the influence of the barrels to develop notes of clove, cinnamon, vanilla, and the palate of colors appear the same vanilla, caramel and butter.

As rooting the practice of storing and transporting wine in barrels, and wine, and merchants, and the military began to notice that during this time the wine is changing under the influence of the wood. Began experiments on conscious aging wine in oak barrels.