Barrel Types: Australia and New Zealand

Barriques of 225 l/59 gal have become the most commonly used barrel, and if imported from France, are imported whole. Hogsheads of 300 l/79 gal and puncheons holding 450 or 500 l/118 or 132 gal may also be found in New World wineries and are regaining popularity. While the latter are too large to manœuvre with ease and do not impart oak flavour as fast as many winemakers desire, they may prove more suitable than barriques, for example, for some lighter wines and for the 21st-century trend towards more restrained use of oak.