You can’t get much more local than your own backyard! My husband and I love to grow our own fruits and vegetables, it is such a great way to save money and you can completely control how your food is grown. When planting our garden this spring we quickly ran out of planter space and were left with some great organic herbs we knew would be a shame to waste. Around that time of year is when the winery happens to be selling our left over used wine barrels so we decided to purchase a wine barrel and make it into a planter! It was such a great way to reuse natural materials and looks great as well!

How to make a Wine Barrel Planter:

  1. Purchase a used Wine Barrel. Ponte usually has barrels for sale in the spring and fall for around $50.00. One wine barrel will make 2 planters (the second planter is perfect for a gift)!

  2. Carefully cut the barrel in half width wise using a jigsaw. If you are not familiar or comfortable with power tools I suggest you not try this yourself. Find a handy family member, friend, neighbor to help you! Tip: We measured the distance from one side of the barrel to the hole in the middle; using this measurement we made marks around the barrel to make sure our cut was even.
  3. Sometimes there are wooden staves anchored inside the barrel, these are used to impart more wonderful oaky flavor into your favorite Ponte Wines. You will need to remove these staves, as it will make things a little difficult when planting.
  4. Drill a small hole in the bottom of each half-barrel to aide in drainage.
  5. Place a layer of small rocks, gravel, or for a lighter alternative, bark at the bottom of the barrel for drainage. Add potting mix on top and fill to just below the top of the barrel.
  6. Plant your favorite herbs and or vegetables!

By Lauren Minogue
Wine Club and Online Store Coordinator