What does it take to make our barrels? 

Our wine barrels are made through a process that involves selecting, seasoning, and shaping oak staves before they are assembled into a barrel. Here are the steps involved:

Selection of Oak Trees: The first step in making fine oak wine barrels is selecting high-quality oak trees. Our white oak is sourced from old primary growth forests of Quercus Petraea and Quercus Robur. These forests are traditionally harvested selecting the oak trees with the best tight grain most suitable to wine barrels.  

Air Drying: After the trees are felled, the oak staves are air-dried for up to three years to reduce moisture content and improve the wood's stability.

Shaping: Once the oak has been seasoned, the staves are cut and shaped into the correct dimensions and angles for barrel assembly.

Toasting: The staves are then heated over a charcoal fire, in a process known as toasting, to caramelize the natural sugars in the oak and create different levels of toasting that will influence the flavors and aromas of the wine. Importantly for purity, our charcoal comes from the same oak as the staves.

Barrel Assembly: The staves are then assembled into a barrel, and metal hoops are hammered into place to hold the barrel together.

Quality Control: The final step in the process is quality control, where the barrels are inspected for leaks and other defects, and any necessary repairs are made.

Our oak wine barrels are highly prized for their quality, which comes from the unique combination of the oak species, the toasting process, and the barrel-making techniques passed down through generations of craftsmen.