abstract : a method of storing and dispensing wine comprising locating a flexible bladder within a walled container such as a oak barrel with the bladder in fluid communication with an aperture positioned adjacent one edge of a wall of the container ; orientating the container so that the aperture is at the top of the container ; filling the flexible bladder with wine via the aperture ; sealing the aperture with a tap ; expelling the air from within the bladder via the tap using a vacuum pump ; inverting the container so that the tap is at the bottom of the container ; and drawing off the wine from the tap . the barrel is supported on means such as a trestle which has roller bearings to facilitate free axial rotation of the barrel .