Definition of Barrel and Vat
A barrel is a round vessel or cask, of greater length than breadth, and bulging in the middle, made of staves bound with hoops, and having flat ends or heads. A vat is a term that refers to a large container or vessel used for holding or storing liquids, typically liquids such as water, chemicals, or food products.
Barrel Sizes and Capacities
- In Bordeaux, a "barrique" holds 225 litres.
- In Burgundy, a standard barrel called a "pièce" holds 228 litres.
- A Bordelaise “tonneau” is four times bigger, containing 900 litres.
Reasons for Using Oak Barrels
There are two main reasons why the winemaker might choose to use oak barrels. The first is the micro-oxygenation that takes place. The second is the impact that the interaction between the wine and the oak has on the aroma and taste of the wine.
Oil Refinery Production and Consumption
At an oil refinery, production is sometimes reported as barrels per calendar day. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) uses product supplied to represent U.S. petroleum consumption.
Staves and Fermentation
A stave is a narrow length of wood with a slightly bevelled edge to form the sides of barrels, tanks, tubs, vats and pipelines, originally handmade by coopers. The process of fermentation in winemaking turns grape juice into an alcoholic beverage. Fermentation may be done in stainless steel tanks, open vats, wine barrels, or wine bottles for sparkling wines.