Cooperage today

Appears in

Published 2006

About

As wooden barrels are expensive to buy, use, and maintain, they tend to be used only for products whose sale price can justify such a major investment or, in the case of older containers, by those who have inherited them.

Cooperages are found wherever there is a wine or spirits business that needs barrels, notably in America, Scotland, and France but also in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, eastern Europe, Germany, Australia, and South Africa. They make new vats and barrels (see barrel making) and/or repair or maintain older barrels and vats (see barrel maintenance and barrel renewal).