🍷 Puncheon
A large barrel of about 500 litres; the oak is less noticeable in the wine.
A puncheon is a large wine barrel of about 500 litres. That is much more than the usual Bordeaux barrique of 225 litres. Such barrels have been known for a long time and are used in several countries.
Puncheons are most often made of oak. The bigger the barrel, the less wood surface there is per litre of wine. So the oak affects taste less: less vanilla, spice and wood tannin. The wine also takes in oxygen more slowly and matures more calmly. Winemakers choose such barrels when they want to keep a clean fruit character.
A puncheon is one kind of oak barrel, like the barrique, the hogshead or large foudres. Sizes differ by country; in some places a puncheon means anything from 450 to 600 litres. Such barrels are also seen in ageing rum and whisky. For wine that does not need a strong oak taste, such a container is often more suitable than a small barrel.
Links
- Part of
- 🍷 Oak barrel
Frequently asked questions
How many litres is a puncheon?
About 500 litres, though the size varies a little between countries.
How is a puncheon different from a barrique?
It is larger, so the wood influences the wine's taste less.
What are puncheons made of?
Most often oak.
Similar
🍷 Bung · 🍷 Pièce (Burgundy barrel) · 🍷 Foudre · 🍷 Stave · 🍷 Barrel hoop · 🍷 Barrel toasting