Handwerkskunst!

How to build a barrel (2x1)

Air date: Apr 29, 2016

Coopers, coopers or coopers - it is a craft that only a few still master. Ralf Mattern from Deidesheim in the Palatinate is one of them. In his business, he builds barrels up to a size of 20,000 liters. And they are not only in demand in the southwest, but worldwide. Most of the wood for the staves comes from the Palatinate Forest. The oak planks have to be stored in the yard in wind and weather for several years until the tannins are washed out. Only then does the cooper shape them so that they can later be assembled into a perfect barrel. It takes Ralf Mattern and his journeymen around 40 hours of work, a lot of muscle power and experience. Machines only play a minor role, as the craft has hardly changed in the last two thousand years. The wood is bent over the fire and sealed with reeds and steam. This creates a unique aroma that is transferred from the wood to the wine and refines it. A fascinating craft in the truest sense of the word.