French Oak Barrels
Call the shop to place an order: 818-884-8586
We import our barrels directly from the best French coopers of small barrels.
They are "Center of France", 24 Months Air-Dried, "Medium Plus," fire toasted, for those lovely, sweet vanilla, spicy, toasty flavors.
We have your premium French oak barrels in stock, and ready to supply to you!
"What Size Barrel Should I Get?" You'll need 3 - 4 times the wine volume, the first year. First year barrels, will oak four (4) times their volume, the first year. At least twice their volume, the second year. Just their volume the third year. (So, with a new 50L/13.2 gallon barrel, you'll need ~50 gallons of wine. Rotate out the oaked volume into glass/stainless, and re-fill with non-oaked wine. DO NOT OVEROAK ANY PART OF THE TOTAL VOLUME! It takes a lot of un-oaked wine to balance out over-oaked wine.
Try not to have barrels empty of wine, at any time! The very best way to keep your barrel sound/bacterial free/oxidation free, is to keep it full of your wine (but, do not over-oak your wine).Top (fill to the bottom of the bung hole) monthly. More often with smaller barrels. Every time that you remove the bung, breaking the vacuum, top-up your barrel!
What if I can't keep my barrel full of wine? Barrels smaller than 110L/30 gallons, will need to be filled with an acid/SO2 solution and topped and treated just like it is full of wine. Unfortunately, you are pouring out all that lovely barrel flavor when emptying the water solution. For more details see "How to Store Empty Barrels", below.
Not enough wine to justify buying a new barrel? Try our Stavin, fire-toasted French oak "beans" and Staves. As close to duplicating a new barrel as is possible.
CLICK HERE FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR BARREL
BARRELS FOR SALE
As a free service we externally prepare your barrels with
- BARRELGUARD™ ( A synthetic alternative to linseed oil. It keeps your barrel free of exterior mold yet, does not seal the barrel, allowing it to concentrate the wine through evaporation. It brings out the wood grain, making your barrel absolutely beautiful )
- WET SURFACE LINER™ ( A 2-part, food grade epoxy that creates a hard, cleanable square patch around the bung hole )
Give us one week to prepare your barrel.
Before use, you will need to soak them internally with hot water until watertight.
Last updated 7-21-23
Our next, once a year shipment of "From France Directly to You" barrels has just arrived! Reserve yours, today!
20 Liter/5.3 gallon - $295
- 17.5" High x 14" Diameter
- 15 lbs.
- Currently none available- More expected by mid August
- All 20 liter barrels come with a stand, spigot, and spigot hole drilled in the head.
30 Liter/7.9 gallon - $365
- 18.5" High x 15.5" Diameter
- 26 lbs.
- Currently 12 available.
- Steel 1 Barrel Rack for 30L & 50L, Burgundy Color, Powder Coated - $150
50 Liter/13.2 gallon - $475
- 24" High x 17" Diameter
- 35 lbs.
- Currently 4 available.
- Steel 1 Barrel Rack for 30L & 50L, Burgundy Color, Powder Coated - $150
110 Liter/29 gallon - $695
- 31" High x 23" Diameter
- 55 lbs.
- Currently 17 available.
- Steel 1 Barrel Rack for 110L, Burgundy Color, Powder Coated - $175
Our shipment of French Oak Barrels arrives "directly from France to you" in late June-early July, each year. If we are out of the size barrel you need, give the shop a call and we can arrange your reservation to ensure that your needs are meet, in the next shipment!
