The production of barrels in Croatia

The barrel is a container which main use is for storage and transportation of liquids, bulk goods and solid materials. Barrels form a group of special wood products-cooperage, i.e. wood containers. Wooden barrels have always been used in the process of wine production and are indispensable items of the wine cellar furniture all over the world. As the wood supply of quality wood is continuously reduced, wooden barrels are today mostly used for ageing of wine, while the containers for the transport and storage of other liquids, bulk goods and solids are made of other cheaper and more convenient materials such as glass, metal and plastics. The best and highly esteemed stave-wood for wine barrels is oak- wood, and penduculate oak of the fine structure which grows amply in Croatia (also known as "Slavonian oak") is demanded for the finest cooperage in the whole world. The Slavonian oak is often required for its optimal tannin content and the presence of other aromatic extractives which are an important factor in ageing of quality wines. Oakwood also splits easily (splitting is an important stave - production technique) and exhibits good processing properties. The Croatian tradition in manufacturing of barrels is long and well known in Europe just because of the wood source which is of exceptional physical and chemical properties. There is still enough of best-quality oak in Croatia for the production of barrels and other containers, not only for the home market but also for the export to other markets in the world vvhich show intensive progress in production of wine but where penduculate oak and sessile oak do not grow naturally. Croatia has developed the cooperage industry for production of large-capacity barrels, but there is also a number of craft workshops which manufacture various barrels and other types of container wooden ware.