Angela Teixeira, Oak Sorter at Tonnellerie Berthomieu Ermitage

The Barrel Head Specialist

Just hearing her first name is enough to bring back the catchy Saïan Supa Crew hit released in the summer of 1999. Angela Teixeira has been part of the Tonnellerie Berthomieu Ermitage team since 2007 and will officially retire on August 1. A new chapter now begins, one she will enjoy alongside her husband, Gérard.

July 1, 2026. It is around 10 a.m. when I meet Angela at Les Ateliers du Chêne in Saint-Martin-du-Puy, in the Morvan region. The previous evening, Didier Deschamps’ French national team had secured a convincing 3–0 victory over Sweden.

“I didn’t watch the end of the match,” Angela tells me. “I’m usually in bed by 11 p.m. Every morning I get up before dawn, around 4 a.m. I found out the final score this morning, and I was really pleased.”

For almost exactly one year, Angela and Patricia, both merrain sorters at Tonnellerie Berthomieu Ermitage, have been making the daily journey from La Charité-sur-Loire to Saint-Martin-du-Puy to work at the CUB (Centre d’Usinage Bois – Wood Machining Centre), located at Les Ateliers du Chêne.

“Patricia and I meet every morning at 5:30. We clock in and then hit the road for about an hour and a half. We take turns driving. We talk about our lives, our families, the little ups and downs of everyday life, and thankfully we laugh a lot too. It has brought us even closer together. Patricia and I get along really well.”

From the Côte-d’Or to the Nièvre

Angela joined Charlois by chance, during a temporary assignment at Nièvre Merrain.

“My husband and I left our native Côte-d’Or region for personal reasons. A combination of chance and work brought us to the Nièvre. That’s how I ended up in Varzy, at Nièvre Merrain.”

It was not a completely new experience for Angela.

“For twenty years, I sorted wood used for making parquet flooring. I already knew the material to some extent, even though merrain is something completely different. It is the first stage of processing, and we are not looking for the same types of defects.”

Life away from family is not always easy. Living in the Saint-Laurent district of Cosne, Angela and Gérard returned every weekend to their village near Châtillon-sur-Seine.

“We did that for a year. We would leave on Friday evening and come back on Sunday evening, until we bought our house in Alligny-Cosne. We chose a large house with five bedrooms so we could welcome family and friends.”

From Varzy to La Charité

Although the work is physically demanding and requires standing for long periods, Angela enjoys her job.

“Sorting wood may not look like much, but it is a real responsibility. A wrong choice can have consequences during the production of barrels, or even worse, once they reach the winemaker’s cellar.”

As she was beginning to become familiar with oak, health issues disrupted Angela’s daily life and routine.

“I was fortunate to receive attentive support and strong backing from the HR department. At the time, it was Francette. I joined the Tonnellerie Berthomieu team in 2009, working in barrel head sorting.”

Between memories and stories from the past, Angela mentions Geneviève, Francette and Denis Charlois, whom she knew.

“He often came to visit us at the cooperage, almost every day,” she recalls.

For Angela and Gérard, life is now moving at a gentler, quieter pace. Between work, family, friends and children. Between the Nièvre and the Côte-d’Or.

It looks just like the CUB

After Nièvre Merrain in Varzy and Tonnellerie Berthomieu in La Charité, Angela is embarking on a new experience in the Morvan region, at Les Ateliers du Chêne.

“The machining of staves and the fitting of barrel heads were relocated to Saint-Martin-du-Puy. Patricia and I were offered the opportunity to continue the journey there. It is a bit far away, but we thought: why not? We were asked to train colleagues in these new skills. It is a form of recognition, a sign of trust. It was an opportunity we couldn’t turn down. It is also a chance to discover new places and meet new colleagues.

The assignment was initially meant to last only a few months. One year later, we are still here. That means there was a real need. We are getting used to it. We actually feel quite good here. I didn’t know the Morvan region before, and I am discovering it.

One thing is certain, though: I will finish my career here at Charlois, surrounded by wonderful people. There are companies you leave without looking back, and others you leave with a heavy heart. That is the case with Charlois. I have spent some wonderful years in this company. I have almost found a second family here — one that listens to you, supports you and understands you. When you live far away from your own family, that matters.”

Three questions for Angela Teixeira

Angela, the time has come for you to retire. How are you feeling about this new chapter?

“I don’t know. It’s strange. It’s July, and I keep telling myself that it’s just the holiday period. We’ll see in September. I am lucky to benefit from a long-career retirement scheme, and I intend to make the most of it. I will be able to take some time for myself and look after my husband, who has health issues, without feeling stressed. I think I will have a retiree’s schedule — a very busy one, I imagine.
Honestly, I think I will miss work. I will miss my colleagues, especially Patricia, with whom I have formed a great team here. But anyway, I have told everyone: if there is a need or if they are short-staffed, I am ready to come and lend a hand a few days a week.”

Nièvre Merrain, Tonnellerie Berthomieu, Les Ateliers du Chêne… you have travelled throughout the Nièvre with Charlois…

“Indeed, the only place missing is Murlin (smiles). I have lived the best years of my career within this group. We don’t always realise how lucky we are. I really want to emphasise that.
I have been through some very difficult times since 2024. My husband was seriously ill and was hospitalised in Dijon. I almost broke down several times, but I was able to count on Vincent, Corinne, Marie, Patricia and especially Sonia. They helped me get through it, by allowing me to adjust my working hours, for example, so I could go and be with my husband at Dijon University Hospital. I will never thank them enough. I have met so many wonderful people.”

You are going to have a lot of free time now. How will you spend it?

(Angela takes a deep breath and looks up at the sky…)

“Honestly, I don’t really know, but I know I will have plenty to do. The house is big, and so is the garden. I love cooking. I will have people over and we will also be invited to visit family and friends. We will go and see our family during the week rather than only at weekends. We won’t have to worry about what time we leave or when we need to come back.
I will go walking, I will look after my husband and accompany him to his medical appointments. We will go on holiday, enjoy ourselves and make the most of life.
Even though I am an early riser, I won’t be waking up at 4 a.m. anymore. I will be able to stay up late and watch the French national team matches from beginning to end (smiles).”

Photos © Christophe Deschanel