Behind the Vines

Barrels: Not Just For Wine

by Farley on June 9th, 2008

People often ask what we do with the oak barrels once we’re done using them.  At Rosenblum Cellars, year five tends to be the last hurrah since use after that— the oak influence is pretty much done.  We don’t resell them, though for a while they went to Oak Barrel Winecraft in Berkeley.  When customers look for info, I tell them to check there but warn that it’s aimed more for home winemaking, and the prices are a little steep for any other use. Another source is Wine Business classifieds where you can find barrels for a range of prices. And therefore, not feel so guilty for turning them into furniture or something for outdoor living.

When cut in half, they bring personality to a garden or makeshift garden area.  While I chose to use mine to plant an herb medley, they are also fun containers for trees: lemon, lime, what have you.  I don’t know if it’s necessary, but when we gave ours the makeover, we added a layer of rocks on the bottom to help with drainage.

I’ve also seen the halves stacked at different heights to make an interesting fountain, though it seemed difficult to maintain.

Image source: Farley Walker

Share This

Related Stories

Want to Learn About Oak Up Close?Wine Update: Bottles and BarrelsNeed More Old World in My Life

POSTED IN: tips