Tonnellerie Baron, crafting exceptional oak barrels of the highest quality since 1875
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_A century and a half of history
Key Dates
Creation of the cooperage by Henri Baron.
The family business is taken over by the second generation, Samuel Baron.
The family business is taken over by the third generation, Louis and Maurice Baron.
The family business is taken over by the fourth generation, François Baron.
The family business is taken over by the fifth generation, Xavier Baron and Nicolas Tombu.
Invention of the OXOline barrel racks.
Arrival of a third partner, Lionel Kreff.
Start of distribution in the USA – Winner of the Vinitech Gold Innovation Award for OXOline.
Invention of Vinification Intégrale® - Start of distribution in Spain.
New distribution network in South America.
Launch of the Premium barrel – Start of distribution in South Africa.
Launch of the Culte® barrel - Start of distribution in Bulgaria.
New distribution network in Italy.
Inauguration of the new cooperage workshops – Arrival of a fourth partner, Sébastian Lane – Start-up of the new Grand Chêne® stave mill.
Start of distribution in Portugal and Australia.
Implementation of an exclusive computer-controlled toasting process. The reproducibility of barrel toasts is optimized and guaranteed at a minimum of 90%.
Tonnellerie Baron celebrates its 140th anniversary. The commemorative limited-edition Culte 140 barrel is unveiled.
Inauguration of new changing rooms, cafeteria, and reception hall.
A CSR plan is implemented with one oak tree planted for each barrel produced, creation of a 1-hectare biodiversity site and LPO bird sanctuary around the stave yards, and provision of electric vehicles for coopers and stave makers’ commuting.
Tonnellerie Baron installs its first set of photovoltaic panels on its production site and switches to a 100% renewable energy provider.
Tonnellerie Baron sets the goal of producing 350 kWhc of green electricity, equivalent to its consumption.
Planting of an 8-hectare arboretum on site (10,000 trees including 48 rare oak species), enabling sequestration of 86 tons of CO2 per year. Tonnellerie Baron thus pursues its goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2025.
Launch of ALMA, the first ceramic–oak vessel for fermenting and aging red or white wines.
Opening of offices in Saint-Emilion. Renovated for commercial purposes, this house in the heart of the vineyards will welcome customers and partners for discussion and tasting sessions.
Launch of Reoaked. The first online marketplace for second-hand barrels for winemakers and distillers, Reoaked now makes it easy to buy and sell second-hand barrels, without intermediaries, anywhere in the world and in complete security.
150 years of family history, 5 generations of coopers. Tribute to the elders who have shaped our outlook. Determination to pass on our know-how to younger generations. Respect for the material and its preservation.
Key dates
Creation of the cooperage by Henri Baron.
The family business is taken over by the second generation, Samuel Baron.
The family business is taken over by the third generation, Louis and Maurice Baron.
The family business is taken over by the fourth generation, François Baron.
The family business is taken over by the fifth generation, Xavier Baron and Nicolas Tombu.
Invention of the OXOline barrel racks.
Arrival of a third partner, Lionel Kreff.
Start of distribution in the USA – Winner of the Vinitech Gold Innovation Award for OXOline.
Invention of Vinification Intégrale® – Start of distribution in Spain.
New distribution network in South America.
Launch of the Premium barrel – Start of distribution in South Africa.
Launch of the Culte® barrel – Start of distribution in Bulgaria.
New distribution network in Italy.
Inauguration of the new cooperage workshops – Arrival of a fourth partner, Sébastian Lane – Start-up of the new Grand Chêne® stave mill.
Start of distribution in Portugal and Australia.
Implementation of an exclusive computer-controlled toasting process. The reproducibility of barrel toasts is optimized and guaranteed at a minimum of 90%.
Tonnellerie Baron celebrates its 140th anniversary. The commemorative limited-edition Culte 140 barrel is unveiled.
Inauguration of new changing rooms, cafeteria, and reception hall.
A CSR plan is implemented with one oak tree planted for each barrel produced, creation of a 1-hectare biodiversity site and LPO bird sanctuary around the stave yards, and provision of electric vehicles for coopers and stave makers’ commuting.
Tonnellerie Baron installs its first set of photovoltaic panels on its production site and switches to a 100% renewable energy provider.
Tonnellerie Baron sets the goal of producing 350 kWhc of green electricity, equivalent to its consumption.
Planting of an 8-hectare arboretum on site (10,000 trees including 48 rare oak species), enabling sequestration of 86 tons of CO2 per year. Tonnellerie Baron thus pursues its goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2025.
Launch of ALMA, the first ceramic–oak vessel for fermenting and aging red or white wines.
Opening of offices in Saint-Emilion. Renovated for commercial purposes, this house in the heart of the vineyards will welcome customers and partners for discussion and tasting sessions.
Launch of Reoaked. The first online marketplace for second-hand barrels for winemakers and distillers, Reoaked now makes it easy to buy and sell second-hand barrels, without intermediaries, anywhere in the world and in complete security.
150 years of family history, 5 generations of coopers. Tribute to the elders who have shaped our outlook. Determination to pass on our know-how to younger generations. Respect for the material and its preservation.
Recognized for its creativity and capacity to innovate, Tonnellerie Baron occupies a unique position, exclusive and avant-garde among French Cooperages. An independent and family owned cooperage, the cooperage is a living history of men and women dedicated to their craft and terroir.
The terroir of the Charente provides a unique balance of sunshine and humidity that is particularly favorable for the aging of oak in our seasoning yards, and serves us well in the production of barrels, puncheons, and foudres of many sizes and shapes.
The necessary time required for each step in the production process requires patience and reflection. Tonnellerie Baron is inspired by its customers, artisan vignerons from around the world, to support their wines and assist them in giving their purest expression.
Recognized for its creativity and capacity to innovate, Tonnellerie Baron occupies a unique position, exclusive and avant-garde among French Cooperages. An independent and family owned cooperage, the cooperage is a living history of men and women dedicated to their craft and terroir.
The terroir of the Charente provides a unique balance of sunshine and humidity that is particularly favorable for the aging of oak in our seasoning yards, and serves us well in the production of barrels, puncheons, and foudres of many sizes and shapes.
The necessary time required for each step in the production process requires patience and reflection. Tonnellerie Baron is inspired by its customers, artisan vignerons from around the world, to support their wines and assist them in giving their purest expression.
« Inspiration comes from observation of nature and the forest, but also from the knowledge of vignerons and their needs. »
_ Our Values
« Our convictions guide us towards an environmental policy that is permanent, to guarantee the longevity and quality of our products, and also the work of the men and women who produce them. »
“Our perfect knowledge of raw materials, the mastery of every gesture, and our total independence allow us to uphold bold convictions — the foundation of our philosophy and its transmission.”
Lionel Kreff
Co-Manager
QUALITY AND TRACEABILITY
Every stage of production, from oak splitting to barrel finishing, is carried out in-house in our workshops. With the strength of our family experience, we select the finest oaks from French forests to offer our customers a wide range of products made exclusively from split oak. The mild Charente climate then provides our wood yards with the perfect humidity and sunlight to obtain flawless wood. Three summers are needed for the chemical and physical transformations of our staves. Our coopers, all graduates of the Cognac Cooperage School, skillfully balance fire and water to achieve a toasting level perfectly aligned with your requirements. To contribute to the sustainable management of forest resources, Tonnellerie Baron is committed to following the strict rules set by the international PEFC program. This certification provides our clients with assurance about the origin of the wood and reflects our concern for transparency and environmental preservation. Through this approach, Tonnellerie Baron guarantees uninterrupted traceability of certified raw materials from the forest plot to the final customer.
CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION
Renowned for its creativity, its ability to innovate with OXOline and Vinification Intégrale, and the excellence of its craftsmen, Tonnellerie Baron holds an original, exclusive, and pioneering place within the circle of French cooperages. Our integrated design office develops solutions and invests in research and innovation to ensure exemplary precision in wood machining, optimization of production flows, and reproducibility of toasting.
INSPIRATION AND ENVIRONMENT
As we roam the forests year-round to select our oaks, we feel deeply concerned with their renewal and the continuation of their heritage and biodiversity.Since 2018, we have chosen to replant one oak for each barrel produced — about 15,000 trees per year.The history of an oak spans centuries; our passage must not jeopardize the future of our craft or the preservation of our forests.
3 core values
QUALITY and TRACEABILITY
Each step in the production process, from the splitting of the staves, to the final finishes of the barrel, are integrated in our workshop. With our family experience, we choose the most beautiful oaks in the French forests, and offer our clients a range of products utilizing the hand split oak.
The softness of the climate in the Charente, with an ideal balance of sunshine and humidity, perfectly seasons the fine oak staves.
Three summers are required for the necessary chemical and physical transformations of the staves before they are ready for coopering. Our coopers, all graduates of the cooper school in Cognac, then balance the perfect doses of fire and water in order to provide a toast profile which matches our customers’ requirements.
In order to contribute to the sustainable management of forest resources, Tonnellerie Baron respects the strict rules set forth by the international PEFC program.
This certification offers our customers an assurance on the origin of the wood, and also testifies to our concern for transparency and preservation of the environment. Through this approach, Tonnellerie Baron guarantees uninterrupted monitoring of certified raw material from the forest to the customer.
CREATIVITY and INNOVATION
Recognized for its creativity and ability to innovate as demonstrated by OXOline and Vinification Integrale, along with the excellence of its coopers, Tonnellerie Baron occupies an exclusive and avant-garde position amongst French coopers.
Our integrated design office develops solutions and invests in research to ensure excellence in our production flow and exceptional reproducability in our toasting protocols.
INSPIRATION and ENVIRONNEMENT
Going through the forests for the selection of our oaks throughout the year, we feel fully concerned by their renewal and ensuring their preservation as part of our heritage and legacy, as well as for biodiversity.
For those reasons, we chose in 2018 to replant 1 oak for each barrel we produced, or about 15 000 trees per year. The history of an oak is written over several centuries, our lifetimes must not compromise the future of our business or the preservation of our forests.
« The absolute knowledge of our raw materials, the mastery of each step of our production process, and our total independence ; these factors allow us to defend our bold convictions, form the foundation of our philosophy, and its transmission. »
Lionel kreff
Co-Manager
The Coopers _
« The trust of our clients strengthens our creativity and makes us more demanding of ourselves to progress more each day. »
The coopers in the workshop of Tonnellerie Baron sustain the elegance and finesse of the art of cooperage. A historic craft, artistic and emotional, which sublimates each barrel as a collective work that exemplify the standards of Tonnellerie Baron.
Aware of the fact that its staff is the heart of the company, Tonnellerie Baron gives priority to the training of its coopers. In the workshops, the production processes are constantly improved and many skills are developed and modified regularly to ensure quality of the highest standards.