Making a barrel by hand is a precise science ... They don't use glue out of fear it could pollute the wine. The oak must have exactly the right amount of moisture. "No more, no less," said ...

Finally, it is time to turn the staves into a wine barrel. Staves are planed into the correct shape, tapered and beveled to fit exactly together. A master cooper—the barrel maker—arranges 30 ...

Pabst started experimenting with steel barrels in 1910, and by the 1930s they had become the industry standard. The materials ...

But not just any barrel — a foudre. A foudre is a massive wooden vat that impacts and preserves the overall taste of the wine. Making a foudre starts with French oak, a tightly grained wood that ...