Our barrels
Your wine
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.
No. 1
EXTRA FINE
Crafted from extra-fine grained Tronçais and Jupille (Berce) oak, this barrel is designed for bold, age-worthy reds such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.
With medium to medium-plus toast and longer élevage, it delivers an exceptionally discreet oak signature. Vanilla and sweet spice notes remain subtle, while coconut characters typically sit at or near their sensory threshold.
Tight grain and extended seasoning support slow, gentle oxygen transfer, promoting colour stability, gradual tannin evolution and long-term structure.
The result is fine, well-integrated tannins that contribute smoothness and depth while allowing grape-derived structure to remain the defining feature of the wine.
No. 2
FINE
Coopered from fine-grained Allier and Vosges oak, this barrel is designed to bring aromatic complexity with elegance and restraint.
Chardonnay commonly picks up brioche, light nut and vanilla tones, while Pinot Noir tends towards subtle cedar and gentle spice. Soft cream and coconut nuances are generally perceived more as texture and sweetness of impression than as dominant flavour drivers. Oxygen transfer is slightly higher than No. 1, helping round tannins in Pinot Noir and build texture in Chardonnay without overwhelming fruit or lees character.
No. 2 suits producers seeking layered, age-worthy wines where barrel complexity complements, rather than obscures, varietal purity.
No. 3
MEDIUM FINE
Crafted from medium-fine grained Centre France and Vosges oak, this barrel offers a richer, more contemporary barrel profile suited to shorter élevage programmes and earlier-release styles.
Designed to deliver more pronounced vanilla, coconut, spice and sweet oak characters, it creates an immediate impression of volume and generosity through the mid-palate while retaining fruit freshness. Its more open structure promotes faster oxygen transfer and earlier tannin softening, making it well suited to shorter maturation programmes.
No. 3 is particularly effective for modest reds needing additional scaffold and for value-tier wines targeting early release with obvious, yet still balanced, barrel character.
Barrels
| Series | Bordeaux Transport | Bourgogne Export | Hogshead | Puncheon | Stave Seasoning (Months) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 | ✔︎ | ✔︎ | ✔︎ | x | 36 |
| No. 2 | ✔︎ | ✔︎ | ✔︎ | ✔︎ | 24/36 |
| No. 3 | ✔︎ | ✔︎ | ✔︎ | ✔︎ | 24 |
Specifications
| Specification | Bordeaux Transport | Bourgogne Export | Hogshead | Puncheon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity (litres) | 225 | 228 | 300 | 500 |
| Stave Thickness (mm) | 22/27 | 27 | 27 | 27 |
| Height (cm) | 94 | 87 | 97 | 108.5 |
| Head Dia. (cm) | 55.5/57 | 60.5 | 63.5 | 77 |
| Bilge Dia. (cm) | 67.5/68.5 | 72 | 76 | 92 |
| Galv Hoops (No.) | 6 | 8 | 6 | 8 |
| Weight (kg) | 45/50 | 50 | 55 | 80 |
| Available Toasts | L/LL/M/ML/M+/H |
Tronçais
In the heart of the Allier region, the fine grain structure of oak grown in the Tronçais forest helps regulate temperature and prevent excessive oxidation, supporting graceful aging over a longer period and allowing a more subtle and smooth integration of oak flavours in the wine. These wines develop structure with smooth tannins and a silky mouthfeel, a natural buttery and creamy expression, light vanilla notes and subtle hints of brioche.
Our forests
To deliver barrels of exceptional quality, Barrel Co. sources oak from the best forests in France.
Jupilles
Located in north-west France between Le Mans and Tours, north of the Loire, Jupilles is part of the larger Bercé forest. The forest’s limestone subsoil and silt deposits create an ideal environment for growing oak trees. Jupilles oak is renowned for exceptional quality with unique characteristics to support longer-term aging processes, leading to complex and well structured wines. The fine grain structure, sweet aroma and taste of vanilla match well with big-bodied red wines.
Allier
The soil properties and planting pattern of the Allier forest are known for producing fine-grained oaks. This allows a slow, controlled release of oxygen and tannins, ideal for producing long-aged wines with a subtle oak influence, bringing polish to the palate and excellent length. Famous for sweetness, baking spices and clove notes, Allier oak respects the fruit while giving finesse, tannins and structure to the wine.
Vosges
Sitting in a low set mountain range in north-eastern France, the Vosges forest produces oak with a slightly more open grain. This offers a good balance between micro-oxygenation and aromatic compounds, providing a broader profile without dominating the wine. With little to no colour and smoother tannins, Vosges oak is well suited to Chardonnay or Pinot Noir. Imparting richness on the palate, it is also an excellent option for adding freshness to a wine.
Certified & Sustainable
Barrel Co’s carefully chosen partners conform to all relevant internationally accepted standards.
The quality and consistency of their operations and production systems are managed against ISO 9001, and environmental management systems conform to ISO 14001 with a focus on continual improvement. Compliance with PEFC ensures sustainable and ethical forest management and full traceability of materials.
Regular third-party laboratory testing for damage or contaminants that can contribute to TCA and other issues is undertaken along the entire production chain, from the forest to the stave mill, the cooperage and into shipping containers.
Our suppliers are committed to minimising their environmental impact and contributing to the decarbonisation of the wood industry. They use 100% green energy, 30% of which is produced onsite.