We offer a variety of used wine barrel products to enhance your patio, deck, yard or garden. If you don’t see what you want, contact us and we’ll get it for you!

There’s nothing like a beautiful garden and a glass of your favorite wine to enjoy during these summer months.

Cheers,

Winedivine

Tomatoes are widely consumed and probably more during the summer than any other season. Tomatoes are acidic and it’ll serve you well to choose a relatively acidic wine to drink with tomatoes, tomato dishes or  tomato sauces.

Pair dark, leafy greens like kale, spinach or swiss chard with light reds like Gamay as greens make full bodied reds too astringent.

Tannins intensify heat, so for spicy, hot dishes like chili and soups, pour soft, fruity reds like Zinfandel or Sangria.

Vegetarian dishes with cheese or pizza pair well with tannic reds like Shiraz/Syrah.

An earthy red like Pinot Noir matches well with earthy ingredients like mushrooms, lentils and root vegetables.

Also, consider that vegetables grown in the same region where the grapes are produced have a likelihood of pairing well. That is not convenient if you live in the states and you’re drinking a Dingac from Croatia, but do consider region when you want to pair foods! I recently learned from a friend that it is best to drink wines in the region where they are produced! This may not be possible all the time, but try it if you have the opportunity!

I am presently in Croatia working in my ancestral family’s vineyards and I can say that our family’s wines are excellant when drunk here AND in the USA!

We welcome your questions and comments about wine, wine making and all things wine related!

Cheers!

Winedivine

We’ve recently expanded our wine barrel racks and stands category and our wine themed gifts category!

See you in the vineyards!

Cheers,

Winedivine

One option to lengthen your oak barrel’s aging life is to shave several layers of oak from the inside of the staves and re-char the wood. This may extend the life of the barrel up to 10 years yet the results are not the same as new wood.

Another option is to create a new life for your barrel. Respectfully retire your oak barrel from a life of aging wine to a new life of symbolizing the wine tasting lifestyle!

The wine barrel is a historic and fundamental symbol of wine making and offers many decorative opportunities. Wine barrels can be crafted into unique furniture pieces to continue to enhance wine tasting in another dimension! They are functional art! Old or new, big or small, they enhance any wine cellar or tasting room. Oak is durable and its grain evidence of Mother Nature’s genius! Give new life to your retired wine barrel. Go green in the process by using your barrel for catching rain. Wine barrels make great rain barrels but they do require care as they must be kept moist and must be kept clean. Cascading water fountains and garden planters are constructed from half barrels and offer unique décor for your home and garden. Barrel troughs are halved lengthwise and can be used as a raised garden bed or a stand up shelf or table in your tasting room or outside patio. The options are endless so consider putting your signature on a retired oak barrel!

Wine Aging and Wine Tasting go hand in hand. Imagine a tasting table or a large barrel chair enhancing your deck or patio. Consider the multiple uses of a barrel head, with or without the steel hoop or band. They can transform into beautiful serving trays, lazy susans, face clocks or personalized signs!

Retired wine barrel staves offer unique decorative choices such as wine racks, stands, candle holders, baskets or more!

The end of wine aging may be the beginning of a new life for your barrel! Consider its many options and create new life for your old barrel and enhance your lifestyle while doing it!

Check out our retired wine barrels’ new lives!

Cheers,

Winedivine

Deciding to bottle or barrel depends on what you will do with your finished product and how you personally want to access your vino.

If you choose not to bottle, it is useful to have a smaller, tasting barrel to hold and pour your fermented grape juice because opening the spigot of a smaller barrel to pour your juice multiple times does not jeopardize the entire volume of your wine. Exposing your aged grape juice to oxygen, pour after pour, will adversely affect your product. It is likely your smaller barrel will empty more quickly, thus reducing the effect of exposure to oxygen. Oxygenation is not your friend. Exposure to oxygen will change and diminish the quality and taste of your aged grape juice. If you are using the same barrel that you used for ageing, it is good practice to empty and clean your barrel, then refill with your wine and pour!

Your best option is to have another barrel for this practice, oak or stainless steel. You can use an electrical pump to transfer higher volumes; smaller volumes can be siphoned or even poured from your larger to your smaller barrel. Cleaning and curing should take less than a day.

Should leaking be a problem, you must cure your barrel. This is a process of pouring very hot water in your barrel. Fill at least half full and allow the water and steam to swell the wood and eliminate any leaks. Swish the water inside by rotating or rolling your barrel. Do this at least 3 times. Then, return your aged wine home, to your barrel for holding and pouring!

Another option is to contain your grape juice in a carboy, temporarily, while cleaning or curing your barrel. A carboy is a glass bottle protected by basketwork or a wooden box. This works if you have less than 6 gallons of juice.

Bottling is an added expense. Bottles and corks can be costly. Labels, foil caps and bar codes are necessities if you are selling your wine. If you want to give as gifts, then bottling is the way to go. Depending on the quantity of wine you will bottle, you may have to invest in an automated bottler and a corking machine. However, small amounts can be managed by bottling and corking your vino manually.

Therefore, whether to bottle or barrel is your decision, based on your plans to enjoy or distribute.
Whether you invite your family and friends for a pour from your oak wine barrel or bottle your fruit of the vine…Enjoy! Cheers!

Spring is here and the vineyards will demand time and energy to care for the fruit of the vine. We are wine makers and love the process from beginning to end. We will share our thoughts and experiences with you. Our Tips to Wine Tasting in 5 Steps can be found at Cheers to Wine Barrels!

Spring is here and the vineyards will demand time and energy to care for the fruit of the vine. We are wine makers and love the process from beginning to end. We will share our thoughts and experiences with you. Our Tips to Wine Tasting in 5 Steps can be found at Cheers to Wine Barrels!