French Oak Wine Barrels
Crafted for New Zealand winemakers.
New Zealand produces some of the world’s most expressive, boundary-pushing wines.
Yet for decades, our barrel supply has relied on a system that wasn’t built with New Zealand in mind.
That mismatch adds cost, limits certainty, flexibility and ultimately, creative freedom.
We believe it’s time for a different model.
One that gives winemakers more control and a supply chain shaped by the realities of local vintage.
Today, that begins with French oak barrels crafted through a direct cooperage partnership. But over time, it will grow into a local, lower-carbon pathway that strengthens the future of New Zealand winemaking.
Great winemaking demands reliability
Our cooperage partners bring decades of French craftsmanship: meticulous grain selection, precise seasoning, and refined toasting methods, using oak from the best forests in France.
Consistency you can count on
We use tight-grain French oak selected for clarity, balance, and longevity. For you, that means more predictable flavour development, steadier results across vintages, and the structural depth that delivers real value in the cellar
A modern supply chain for local winemakers
Our model removes unnecessary layers and outdated inefficiencies, which means cost advantages come naturally: barrels priced in NZD rather than Euro volatility, no agent commissions inflating costs, and significantly reduced freight emissions and expense.
More time to make the right call
Seasons shift and yields vary. We currently offer confirmation on numbers as late as December before harvest, giving you the freedom to make more certain, timely choices. Our future model will allow us to take that through to February.
Fewer miles for a smaller footprint
Freighting empty barrels from France produces over 1kg of CO₂ per 1kg of barrel. Our long-term plan to manufacture barrels in New Zealand using French oak will reduce that by up to 80%, dramatically shrinking the footprint of barrel supply while improving availability.
Our barrels
Your wine
No. 1
EXTRA FINE
An exceptional barrel mixing Tronçais and Jupilles oak seasoned outdoors for a minimum of 36 months, No. 1 suits bold red wines such as Merlots, Cabernets and Syrahs.
The aromatic impact of these oaks respects the wine’s character through slow integration.Maturation periods of 14 to 20 months allow the wine to fully express itself.
The dense and elegant structure of this barrel enables the development of powerful, concentrated, tannic wines, adding smoothness and depth at the end of the ageing process.
No. 2
FINE
Coopered using a blend of Allier and Vosges oak, our No. 2 barrel is designed to bring great complexity on the nose along with elegance on the palate.
With a powerful character, these barrels are well suited to classic-ageing wines, including Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
A barrel maturation period of 10 to 14 months allows the oak flavours and aromas to integrate perfectly, delivering silky tannins and bringing length to the wine.
These barrels are seasoned outdoors for 24 - 36 months as selected by the winemaker.
No. 3
MEDIUM FINE
Our No. 3 barrel is coopered from a blend of medium-fine grained oak from Centre France and the Vosges forests.
This barrel is designed to add aromas and notes of vanilla and spice while retaining the freshness of the fruit, giving the wine a first impression of sweetness and volume mid-palate.
These modern rich barrels are ideal for short maturation periods of six to nine months, where the winemaker intends the wine to be drunk young.
No. 3 barrels are seasoned outdoors for 24 months.
Barrel Co was created with a long view: to build a local cooperage model shaped around New Zealand’s climate, winemaking styles, and sustainability goals.
We’re not an agent. Barrel Co is a New Zealand–owned barrel supplier with our own French cooperage partner.
As we grow, our plan is to bring barrel manufacturing to New Zealand shores using French oak, shortening the supply chain to achieve cost efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint of every barrel.
French Oak,
Kiwi thinking.
We’re building a more sustainable, locally aligned barrel model, and we’re doing it with winemakers who care about where the industry is heading.
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