Expert: Paul Wagner - 5/31/2005

Question
I am trying to buy the large oak wine or bourbon barrells to store rain water in.  Do you know of a source for such an item?

Answer
dear Dfreyer:

Yes--most wineries will sell you their old barrels.  All you have to do is ask.  They usually do this around the end of the summer to make room for the new barrels for harvest.  

But you should know that the reason the wineries are selling the barrels are that they leak, or have developed a bad flavor due to some kind of mold growth.  I don't think they make such good rainwater storage because of this--and they are VERY heavy.  YOu are better off using plastic garbage cans, or plastic chemical shippers.  They are about the same size, much cleaner, mugh lighter, and don't leak.

PauL Wagner