April 10, 2025 — We would like to sincerely thank our clients for their loyalty and trust. More than ever, we remain committed to delivering impeccable quality in each of our barrels, while preserving the unique style and craftsmanship of our cooperages.
Within the current context, marked by the application of new tariffs on barrels from Europe, Charlois is offering two adapted solutions:
- BARREL PRODUCTION IN OUR FRENCH AND EUROPEAN COOPERAGES – WITH TARIFFS SURCHARGE
Our French and European cooperages continue to fulfill your orders and produce barrels under the usual conditions. In this case, just like all other French coopers, an additional line will appear on your invoices, clearly and transparently reflecting an optimized impact of the newly imposed tariffs.
- BARREL PRODUCTION IN CALIFORNIA – WITH NO TARIFFS SURCHARGE
Charlois anticipated the tariff measures months ago and secured stockpiles of French and European oak at its three Californian warehouses. Thanks to its two Californian cooperages – TFFC (Tonnellerie Française – French Cooperage) in Calistoga and Charlois Cooperage in Cloverdale – the group now offers locally
made barrels from French and European oak, avoiding any tariff-related costs.
Faithful Reproduction of the Group’s Signature Styles
Our French master coopers are being sent on site to supervise the entire production process, ensuring wood traceability, authentic toasting profiles (including immersion and steam), and overall barrel quality. The barrels
produced in California will meet the same high standards as those crafted in France, and reflect the specific characteristics of each of the group’s cooperages.
This offer applies to the group’s main cooperage brands, ensuring continuity in style and performance for our clients.
With this second option, you can access high standards French and European oak barrels without being affected by the newly introduced import tariffs.
ABOUT CHARLOIS
Since the mid-17th century, Charlois has been dedicated to enhancing the finest oak trees in France. Specializing in the selection of the rarest and most precious oaks, the group oversees the entire value chain — from forestry, in compliance with sustainable silvicultural practices, to the natural seasoning of staves, and the crafting of high-quality barrels for aging fine wines and spirits around the world. Charlois is committed to offering the most respectful and noble use of these oak trees, whose average age is close to two hundred years.
While firmly rooted in its time, Charlois remains deeply committed to preserving the artisanal know-how and family values that have shaped its history. Driven by exceptional growth — doubling its revenue on average every five years — Charlois has become a major player in the cooperage industry, both for wine and
spirits, in France and internationally.
Since 2022, the group has strengthened its position in the premium spirits sector by investing in Scotland and acquiring strategic assets in the United States. It has replicated there the vertically integrated model that has proven so successful in Europe, where it is the largest buyer of oak in both France and Romania.
Alongside this strong growth, Charlois has remained committed to preserving the unique identity and character of each of its cooperages. Every house retains its own style, expertise, and client relationships, while the group provides support, resources, synergies, and strategic vision to foster their development.
With this fully integrated approach — from forest to barrel, and through to reuse — Charlois has established itself as a key reference in the world of wine and spirits, while preserving the richness and diversity of each of its cooperage houses.
CHARLOIS IN CALIFONIA
Charlois has been established in California since 1980 through TFFC (Tonnellerie Française – French Cooperage) in Calistoga, and since 2010 with Charlois Cooperage USA in Cloverdale. This longstanding presence has allowed us, for several decades, to share the authentic expertise of our French coopers with our American teams, while
continuously introducing technological improvements in equipment and production processes.
The local production capacity of Charlois’s two cooperages — a unique presence in California in the world of wine barrel-making — enables us to meet the specific needs of American winemakers with flexibility, proximity, and responsiveness.
Thanks to three strategically located warehouses in California, we have been able to ensure a reliable supply of French and European oak staves directly within the United States, offering our partners continuity, quality, logistical security, and short lead times.
This unique infrastructure supports long-standing collaborations with Californian wineries, built on trust, technical exchange, and a shared pursuit of excellence.
