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Hello there! I'm Dr. Vinifera, or "Vinny" for short. Ask me your toughest wine questions, from the technical aspects of winemaking to the fine points of etiquette. I hope you find my answers educational and even amusing. Want to see more of them? Check out my archive. And here are my most Frequently Asked Questions.

Dear Dr. Vinny,

How many barrels does a typical oak tree provide? And how old is that typical tree?

—Eric Berman, Woodinville, Wash.

Dear Eric,

Barrel-destined oak trees ideally grow in cool climates, which gives them a chance to mature slowly and develop a desirable tight grain. Most trees are at least 60 to 80 years old before they are harvested, though some coopers only use trees 150 to 200 years old. It’s difficult to say how many barrels can be harvested from a single tree, because it depends on the size of the barrel and the condition of the tree, but typically a cooper can get between one and three standard-size barrels per tree.

—Dr. Vinny

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