We had the pleasure of visiting Seguin Moreau Napa Cooperage to get up close and personal with the production of hand crafted oak barrels. We had a very enjoyable guided tour with sales representative, Chris Hansen and Master Cooper, Douglas Rennie.
Sequin Moreau offers their clients the choice to have their French barrels handcrafted in France and shipped to the U.S. versus having them assembled locally at the Napa facility from staves that are imported from France. And while at James Cole we opt for the former, the tour of their Napa facility offered us a first hand glimpse of the passion and craftsmanship that goes into every barrel they produce—regardless of location.
In addition to experiencing the production process, we also spent a great deal of time learning and understanding the “magic” that happens inside the barrels—essentially, the interaction of wine and wood. Seguin Moreau was the first cooper to study this interaction and analyze such things as the influence of grain selection, the advantages of sessile oak and the management of sustainable forests.
As for the barrels we use at James Cole Winery, we work closely with Chris and Douglas to craft barrels with ultra tight grain that allows for the integration of oak over a longer period of time. The oak staves are a special selection of 30+ months aged and results in wines that are never over oaked—rather more complex with layers of aromas and flavors.
We are happy to be working with who we believe to be the best in the business.