Learning How to Build Wine Barrels with Yann, Master Cooper with Barrel Builders

(Contributed by  Erica Schreckenghaust) In the second installment of our field trip series, we had the honor of going to Barrel Builders, a barrel cooperage, in St. Helena. About Barrel Builders Barrel Builders was created in 1972, by a handful of French coopers who were sent over to assist Robert Mondavi’s people in the assembly, finish and care of the barrels. At the time Mondavi was one of the few people to begin using French oak barrels and soon after, their popularity spiraled. Barrel Builders were the pioneers within the industry as they were the only cooperage represented in the [...]