OUR HISTORY
The history of the Charlois group took root in the middle of the 17th century in the Bertranges forest, with the stave*maker Jacques Charlois.
In 1928, after eight generations of working in the forest, Eugène Charlois established a wood splitting mill at Murlin – the Maison Charlois.
Situated in the heart of the Nivernais, deep in the largest oak forests of France, the company contributed to the preservation of this gem which contains the finest oaks in France. It specialised in the selection of oaks, the crafting and natural seasoning of staves with respect for good forestry practices**.
Whilst resolutely in step with the modern era, the Charlois Group, created by Sylvain Charlois in 2005, preciously preserves historic family values and skills. “For us, everything begins with the oak. It is an infinite source of inspiration. It guides all our creations with precision and perfection. And we take pains to ensure that the result of its transformation is befitting of its nobility,” confides Sylvain Charlois.
Since its creation the Group has diversified into a range of complementary activities all with oak and the forest as their focus. An arborescence of skills that fall into three broad categories :
OAK GENERATION, dedicated to the original village, supports art and culture and the enhancement of local heritage.
OAK COLLECTION brings together forest ownership & promotion, unusual and exceptional constructions in wood, cosmetics and hospitality.
OAK NATION reunites complementary trades that are linked to the forest, to the oak, and to wine, such as forestry, sawmilling, stave-making, cooperage, the manufacture of large barrel formats, alternative oak products for oenology, transport & logistics and engineering. OAK NATION also incorporates a specialist laboratory for the agri-food industry and an R&I department.
In 2016, the nobility of oak rightly inspired the Charlois Group to step into the realm of luxury with the creation of La Chênaie, a brand of cosmetics made with a patented oak extract resulting from anti-age research, and the La Grange cooperage, prestigious artisan barrel makers whose barrels are hand made by the group’s finest craftsmen. Two exceptional activities stamped with the Charlois Group hallmark of excellence.
In 2018 Sylvain Charlois created Charlois for Art and the Forest, a foundation to develop, promote and highlight art, culture and heritage related to the forest, its trades, traditions and values.
Sharing common values in terms of heritage, know-how and transmission, the Nadalié family in 2018 and the Vlad family in 2020 joined the Charlois group.
In 2021, MERRAIN & COMPAGNIE was created in order to materialize the union of these family values and lead the activities of OAK NATION.
* High quality oak cut into lengths for the manufacture of oak barrels
** All science, art and activities relating to the protection, development, management and creation of the forests.
Our milestones
stavemaker
1659 : TRIP OF
COLBERT IN THE NIÈVRE
1669 : ORDONNANCE DES
EAUX ET FORÊTS
Eugène Charlois founds a stave splitting workshop in Murlin, Forestry, stavemilling
1964 : CREATION OF THE “OFFICE NATIONAL DES FORÊTS”
1939 : Beginning of the WWII, Eugène Charlois was ranked on special assignment under the War Woods Military Center
1959 : Eugène Charlois is elected mayor of Murlin
Denis Charlois took over the business after the death of his father Eugène and gradually made himself one of the leaders in the stave manufacturing, helped in his task by his eldest sons, Lionel and Xavier, who joined him in the mid-1980s.
Sylvain Charlois joins his father and brothers Lionel and Xavier in the family business as cutting clerk
Forestry, stavemilling
Caring for heritage
Hospitality
Sylvain Charlois buys back the family business and create the Charlois group
Berthomieu Cooperage
Premium brand of Berthomieu cooperage
Les Ateliers du Chêne
Forestry, sawmill, stavemilling, manufacture of oak products for œnology
Saury, Leroi, L’Atelier du Foudrier
Cooperages, vat making
Laboratoire Exact
R&I / Analyses
Charlois Cooperage, USA
Cooperage
Oak for œnology
Cooperage
Cosmetics
Engineering
Magreñan Cooperage
Oak for œnology
Transport & Logistics
Bernard Cooperage
Louis Charlois, Sylvain’s eldest son, takes over the presidency of the fundation
Acquisition of 49,99% of Nadalié group : Megnin Mills, Nadalié, Nadalié USA, Marsannay, Mercier, Chambeaud, Marchive, Oak Add Ins, Emanation by Marchive, Vinotransform.
Forestry, sawmill, stavemilling, cooperage, oak for œnology
La Cabane Perchée
Amazing wooden constructions
Forest ownership & promotion
Association with the Vlad family :
Transilvania Bois
Forestry, stavemilling
Vlad
Cooperage
Barrel Builders
Cooperage and supplies for cooperages
Transilvania Bois
Forestry, stavemilling
Vlad
Cooperage
Acquisition of 50,01% of Nadalié group
Organizational chart
Our companies in France
Murlanium – Fonds Charlois pour l’Art et la Forêt – La Ferme des Bertranges – Charlois Cosmétiques – L’Auberge des Bertranges – Maison Charlois – Nièvre Merrain – Les Ateliers du Chêne – Tonnellerie Berthomieu/Ermitage – Tonnellerie La Grange – Tonnellerie de Marsannay – Œnosylva – Saveurs – Technoak – Laboratoire Exact
Oak Generation – Merrain & Compagnie – Oak Collection – Oak Nation – Oak Forest Club
Our companies in the world
OUR VALUES
Oak has been written into the Charlois family DNA
since the middle of the 17th century.
It is the passion for this noble tree that continues
to inspire the group today.
A passion without which this venture would not be possible.
EFFICACY, AUTHENTICITY, AESTHETICS, INNOVATION
These are the four key values upon which the Charlois group
is founded.
EFFICACITY
Efficacy requires the organisation and implementation of control systems to optimise product quality and meet our customers’ requirements.It also demands optimum working conditions, specialist equipment, good security and hygiene, and a sound environment.
AUTHENTICITY
The story that began in the middle of the 17th century in the Nevers and Bertranges forests has been perpetuated since 1928 at Murlin and continues today thanks to ethical professional practices. Strong principles such as the attachment to authenticity generate confidence and have built us an excellent reputation with customers, suppliers and financial partners. An authenticity that is also a source of pride and motivation for our employees.AESTHETICS
A sense of aesthetics translates into beauty and elegance,and in the constant care and respect that accompanies all our actions and creations.
INNOVATION
Our ongoing research into oak and its qualities allows us to constantly innovate to improve the quality of our products, and to create new ones.Our Partners
SOCIÉTÉ NATIONALE DES MEILLEURS OUVRIERS DE FRANCE
Originally founded so that the Best Craftsmen of France do not fall into oblivion after the Competition, the National Society of the Best Craftsmen of France has always had a pro-active role in the promotion of manual trades and has been committed for more than ten years in the transmission of know-how to the youngest.Its missions follow three axes: bringing together the Best Craftsmen of France, sharing their know-how and transmitting a taste for professional excellence.
LES FILMS SUR LA FILIERE BOIS
The films on the forest-wood sector aim to promote the sector in France through the production of documentary films, reports and institutional films.The forest is now, perhaps more than ever, at the heart of several major societal issues. However, without sufficient knowledge of the forest resources, its history and the women and men who work to develop it, the debate risks being disconnected from reality. Many subjects were filmed but from a single angle and a directed (even radical) point of view.
BLUES EN LOIRE
A colorful festival, Blues en Loire invites artists from all over the world to put the "blue note" on the exceptional heritage of the city La Charité-sur-Loire, and to close the summer season in style. And the more and more numerous public each year is not mistaken!Noble, popular and festive music, the blues is played in the Priory, in the street or on the terrace of a restaurant, improvised, sung or played on a guitar.