Oak

Bending is the keystone of crafting an oak cask, and it takes place just after the raising (“mise en rose”). During this stage of production, the cask takes on its definitive shape thanks to mechanical force combined with the joint action of heat and water. The hoops fitted during bending hold the whole structure together, […]

To carry out the “mise en rose” (raising), the cooper assembles the staves vertically, side by side, inside an assembly hoop. This stage comes just before bending, during which the cask takes on its final shape.   The “mise en rose” is the cooper’s domain a skill that demands dexterity, speed and precision. Each cask […]

Fresh from the stave mill, the oak stave wood consists of four-sided, straight-grained pieces with clean edges. Upon arrival at the cooperage—after a minimum of 20 months of open-air seasoning—they are shaped and transformed into staves that form the barrel’s shell. Four successive steps are required to produce a stave ready for use.   The […]

Aromas, Oak, and R&D Her knowledge is matched only by her discretion. Lise Michel, a trained and experienced oenologist, joined Charlois on February 1st, 2024, stepping seamlessly into the role of Research Engineer—a role that suits her perfectly. Attached to the Exact Laboratory, Lise supports all the cooperages within the group, the sales teams, [...]

Adèle and Elsa Matrot have been at the helm of their eponymous estate for about ten years. Nestled in the heart of Meursault, the estate was passed down from their parents—a true family story that lives on through the way they craft their wines. It is Adèle and Elsa who now hold the delicate responsibility […]

Established in the Cognac region since the 1930s, Tonnellerie Bernard combines authenticity and craftsmanship to meet the needs of its customers, whether winemakers or distillers. In the heart of Grande Champagne, the artisans at Tonnellerie Bernard have mastered the skills and techniques required for the meticulous craft of barrel and vat making. [...]

In the production of stave wood, every step is essential to ensuring high-quality wood for cooperage. After the edging process, comes the sorting phase. This crucial step involves selecting the stave wood pieces that meet the strict requirements for producing staves, ensuring the quality and, most importantly, the watertightness of the barrels.   S [...]

A New Romanian Generation Takes the Helm Since the 2010s, new vineyard owners, along with Romanian engineers, managers, and winemakers, have been spearheading a revival of the country’s winemaking traditions. This new generation, trained in Italy, France, New Zealand, and Chile, is fluent in English and brimming with determination, taking control o [...]

Cubing logs* is the first step in the stave mill process. This is where future barrels are shaped.   Logs are trucked directly from the forest to the Group’s staveyards. In Murlin, in Varzy (Nièvre Merrain), in Saint-Martin-du-Puy (Ateliers du chêne) or at Tonnelleries Merranderies Réunies in Charente… One by one, the logging truck places […]

  Through its subsidiary Oak Nation, Charlois is proud to announce the acquisition of 100% of Graf Brothers in the United States.   For four generations, the Graf family has been active in oak processing in the United States. Founded in 2003 by Greg and Dave Graf in South Shore, Kentucky, at the heart of […]

It’s brand new, just out, the first edition of Charlois magazine. It’s a condensed version of information about the group, its houses, news, art and culture, women and men. In this first number, we look at the Charlois family and its history through the centuries, from Jacques in 1657 to Sylvain today. It’s also about […]

Through this new series on the professions of cooperage, we will guide you through each step and skill of the trade, covering the roles of scaler, crosscutter, splitter, sawyer, edger, sorter, quality controller, and stacker of staves.   After the Charlois buyers select the oaks in the forest, the most important task in working oak […]