Drank a bottle of 1998 Penfolds BIN 407 Cab. Sauv. On the back label it states the following:

...superb oak integration from 12 months maturation in French & Americanhogsheads.

I figure/assume Barrels?!? Is that the name for Barrels in Australia?

Results of aGoogle Search.

It's a name that seems to be favored in the English Empire.

It's just the biggest barrel. I was going to give you a horrible explanation that I'd made up to see who would fall for it but it made me feel ill, so I stopped.

Hogshead = Big-Ass Barrel. About 30% bigger than your standard wine barrel. I've heard that they are sometimes used for longer term storage, less intimate contact and wood extraction than a normal barrel. I am not a wine maker, so take my comments for what they are worth.

Why used in Australia? Don't you Aussies always have to do everything Big-Ass?

Bass