I have a 1-gallon cask that I use for oaking small batches. I've used it for
several years, but this year, it sprung a leak.

Before I was ready to use it, I filled it with water and let it sit for four
or five days so that the staves would swell up and be water-tight. After I
was sure that it wasn't leaking, I drained the water and filled with wine. I
checked each morning and evening for a few days and there was no leakage.

After about ten days, I opened the basement door and smelled wine from the
top of the steps. My first thought was that the cat might have knocked a
bottle off the racks but I found that several ounces of wine had leaked out
of the end of the barrel, where the staves are grooved to fit the
barrel-head. I put the wine back into a gallon jug and topped off.

Any ideas of why a barrel would decide to start leaking after more than a
week? Any way to fix it?

Paul

Could it have built a slight pressure inside? If you bung it tight and
the temperature of the wine increases it will grow; this time of year
it's usually the opposite. You may be able to just tighten the upper
hoop to address this, or get some barrel wax. It may be tough to figure
out where the leak is when it's on the perimeter; the perimeter kind of
wicks things up sometimes.

Joe

On 24 Oct 2005 03:24:08 -0700, "Joe Sallustio" >
wrote:

>Could it have built a slight pressure inside? If you bung it tight and
>the temperature of the wine increases it will grow; this time of year
>it's usually the opposite. You may be able to just tighten the upper
>hoop to address this, or get some barrel wax. It may be tough to figure
>out where the leak is when it's on the perimeter; the perimeter kind of
>wicks things up sometimes.
>
>Joe


Once the barrel is fixed, do NOT leave empty! I've never been into
barrels, but friends that are keep 'em full year round. I believe
they use a SO2 mixture (not sure of strength) when not full of wine.

Bryan

"Pavel314" > wrote in message
...
>Any way to fix it?
>
> Paul
>

duct tape ;p

~
ay