Barrels being heated and dampened in order to bend the staves, Tonnellerie Doreau (Doreau Cooperage) Cognac, France, 2015.
Workstation with mallet and reeds, making barrel lids
reeds between the French oak planks
Striking modern design in the office at Tonnellerie Doreau
Very modern & stylish little outdoor office at Tonnellerie Doreau
French oak being left to age outdoors at Tonnellerie Doreau
French oak. It is left outdoors to age for a few years before being used for barrels.
Older French oak underneath the younger wood
French oak as far as the eye could see, aging.
It's mind blowing to think about the value of all of that wood!
Oak planks fitted with reeds, ready to be cut into barrel tops
A workstation at Tonnellerie Doreau
Cut barrel tops
Barrel rings at Tonnellerie Doreau
The shiny new barrels at Tonnellerie Doreau
The tops of the barrels are assembled into the rings, then the barrels are wetted down and heated
Barrel being heated before the staves can be bent
Machine & cord gradually bending the barrel staves into shape.
This little machine is in charge of tautening the cable that bends the staves.
The barrels are heated to be formed, and then afterwards are charred to the specs requested on the order
Chimney for charring oak barrels
Various sizes for rings to make different sized barrels