Doreau l’Atelier brings together a team of experienced coopers dedicated exclusively to the maintenance and restoration of barrels and casks for winemakers, in full respect of traditional cooperage craftsmanship. The coopers at Doreau l’Atelier work with traditional tools and possess a precise understanding of the wear caused by time on barrels and large oak casks. They carry out the necessary repairs to sustainably extend the life and quality of each barrel. This rare expertise is an integral part of the process of enhancing and optimizing oak as a raw material. Doreau l’Atelier also offers solutions for the purchase and sale of used barrels for wines and spirits.

The story of Jean Vernou, master cooper in Cognac, began in 1964 in Julienne, at the heart of the “Fins Bois” cru of the Cognac AOC. This artisanal cooperage is distinguished by a personal style that led, in 2010, to the creation of the “Collection Vernou,” one of the wine barrel collections of Doreau Tonneliers. Their shared passion for wine naturally brought together the Doreau and Vernou cooperages, which combined their expertise and strengthened their complementarity. Today, the production of Tonnellerie Vernou is fully integrated into Tonnellerie Doreau, which ensures the continuity of its activity. Vernou is renowned for its distinctive toast profiles, developed to support powerful wines. Aging in a Vernou barrel reveals the full intensity of the grape varieties and brings balance to the wine’s aromatic palette.

Experts in the traditional splitting of staves for cooperage, the Gatard and Poletz families naturally joined forces with Tonnellerie Doreau in 1999 and 2012 respectively, sharing the same values of authenticity and mastery of the craft. From this union was born Tonnelleries Merranderies Réunies (TMR), with the objective of securing oak supply. At every stage of production — from oak selection to quality control — the men and women of Tonnelleries Merranderies Réunies pursue a single goal: to express their art and give their very best. More than ever, stave mills and cooperages stand united in the service of excellence.

Founded in 1989 by Thierry Doreau in Cognac, Doreau Tonneliers retains from its winegrowing origins a deep-rooted connection to its terroir in the heart of the Charente region. Through the crafting of barrels, Doreau Tonneliers passionately perpetuates the artisanal heritage of the cooper’s craft — an experience that is an art passed down from generation to generation. The traditional wood-fire toasting methods of Doreau Tonneliers allow for bousinage profiles tailored to wines and spirits, while the controlled combination of temperature, duration, and color ensures full reproducibility. Each barrel, paired with a harmonious toast, enhances the typicity of wines and eaux-de-vie, while respecting their finesse and identity. To share a passion is to speak the same language: respect for oak as a material, mastery of the gesture, and transmission of knowledge. This commitment, carried by everyone at Doreau Tonneliers, has contributed to its success since its founding. The Atelier holds the “Entreprise du patrimoine vivant” (Living Heritage Company) label.