History of Barrel
The barrel as we know it (multiple pieces of wood bent into shape by fire) is thought to have been invented by Spanish Celts around the 5th century BC. Adopted and then spread by the Romans and colonizing Europeans, as it transported a vast range of items including oil, ammunition, foodstuffs, building materials, currency, and all manner of beverages to the far corners of the world. It wasn’t until the triple advent of cardboard, plastic, and stainless steel during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the barrel was relegated to the cellars, caves, and barns of the wine and spirits industry.
According to Roman historians, clay amphora remained the preferred container for wine until sometime between the 1st and 3rd centuries AD, when the barrel finally won out. Originally, the wine was kept in a barrel for ease of transport rather than for its effect on flavor. After WWII, the barrel’s role shifted from a mere vessel to that of the oenological implement.
Source: Kelli White - writer of Guildsomm
Collected and composed by Le Thi Xuan Vy - Sommelier at the Warehouse
