Barrels are a common container used to store and age wine. Many white wine styles are even fermented in barrels. Most barrels are made from different species of oak. Other woods are sometimes used, but they are very uncommon. The typical size for a wine barrel is roughly 60 gallons, but other sizes are available. The oak is harvested from different forests around the world and barrels are referred to by the region from where the wood was harvested. French, American, and Hungarian oak are the most common regions that produce barrels.

During the construction of barrels, coopers heat the stalves so that they can be shaped. This toasting process creates sensory characters in the wood that will be imparted into the wine during fermentation and aging. The cooper's individual styles, along with the degree of toasting, determines the type and depth of characteristics that will find their way into a finished wine.