Osann calibration centre

In 1879, a small building made of rubble stone was erected in Osann, which played a central role for the winemakers of the region for many decades. Until 1972, winemakers from Osann, Monzel, and surrounding villages used the so-called Eichhaus to have their oak barrels officially measured and certified. The responsibility for ordering the gaugers was shared by the communities of Osann and Monzel.

The measurement was necessary because the barrel volume could change over time due to deposits of tartar and the tightening of the barrel hoops. Brand new barrels were also tested there.

Inside the Eichhaus, there were three metal vats of different capacities, each equipped with a counter. The barrel was manually rolled into the building and filled with water via a hose. A float in the vat moved a measuring device that indicated the exact amount of water as soon as the barrel was filled to the bung hole.

To mark the measurement, the gauger burned the determined liter count into the barrel bottom with a heated branding iron. If an old measurement was already present, it had to be sanded down or chiseled out first. Additionally, each process was documented with an entry in the measurement book and the official stamp.

The measurements predominantly took place in autumn or winter when the barrels were empty because the wine had already been sold. On average, about 40 wooden barrels were measured annually. In 1972, this tradition came to an end: The Eichhaus was closed, and the measurement books along with the official seal were handed over by the last gauger, Klaus Müller, to the measurement office in Trier.