How long does it take to make a barrel?

Next time you take a sip of wine aged in oak, take a moment to appreciate the incredible journey behind that barrel. Here it is:

1. Growing the oak

The oak trees used for barrels need to grow for 80 to 120 years before they’re ready to be cut down. Yep, that’s about a century just to grow the tree!

2. Drying the wood

Once the tree is cut, the wood is split into pieces called staves. These need to dry out (called « seasoning ») for 18 to 36 months.

3. Building the barrel

Expert barrel makers, called coopers, put the staves together and toast the inside with fire. This toasting gives the wine its special flavours: vanilla, coffee, smoke… The whole process takes a few working days, but the coopers train for years to do it just right.

All in all?

Growing the tree can take up to 120 years, and up to 3 years after it has been cut down. So, when you sip a wine aged in oak, you’re enjoying the result of a century-long process!