There is disclosed a system and method for processing wine and/or a containing barrel, while keeping a volume of most of the wine in the barrel. The disclosed system and method can provide reduced mixing of different layers of wine in the barrel. An optional scrubbing mechanism cleans an interior surface of the barrel from encrusted matter, and an optional UV sterilization light source sanitizes an interior surface of the barrel that is alongside a cavity in the barrel empty of wine. In some embodiments a pumping and filtering system preserves non-mixing flow of wine in the barrel while effectively filtering wine optionally without the use of a filter cartridge or other interposing medium.