Barrique

/bah-REEK/

A 225-liter oak barrel, the Bordeaux standard.

Full Definition

The barrique is a 225-liter (59-gallon) oak barrel originating from Bordeaux. This size became international standard due to Bordeaux's historical trade dominance. The relatively small size provides good surface-to-wine ratio for oak extraction and micro-oxygenation. Burgundy uses slightly larger 228-liter pieces.

Related Terms

barrel piece hogshead

See Also

Barrel Fermented Back to Glossary Base Wine

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