A selection of large forest areas
Berthomieu barrels are made from carefully selected* French oak staves. Each barrel is made from oak from the same forest: Nevers, Allier, Vosges or a blend from Centre France.
Guaranteed traceability of forest selection is a very important distinction for a stave mill. The impact of forest terroir on wood is comparable to that of terroir on wine**. For good product control, it is essential that winemakers know the exact origin of their wood year after year.
The three main forest origins offered by Tonnellerie Berthomieu are Nevers, Allier and Vosges. Each has its own specific characteristics:
– NEVERS – Fine grain: Light structure; softness; freshness. Nevers encompasses a group of forests located in the Nevers region (Nièvre département in central France). The terrain in this area is mainly gentle hills, with rich, moist soil. Nevers produces tall, straight trees with a regular grain. The predominant species is the pedunculate oak (Quercus Robur). Nevers oak is characterized by its tight grain. It gives less structure to the wine than that of the Allier forest, but adds a pleasant softness. Nevers oak is also renowned for preserving the wine’s natural tension and freshness.
– ALLIER – Grain fin: Finesse; adds tannin and structure; long finish. The Allier forest region uses the same name as the department in which it is located. Although Allier is adjacent to the southern part of Nevers, its terroir is very different. The grain of Allier oak tends to be tighter than that of other forests. Allier oak respects the fruit while giving it finesse, tannin and structure. With extended barrel ageing, it provides a long, lingering finish on the palate.
– VOSGES – Medium-fine grain: Softened tannins; adds sweetness, body, freshness. The Vosges forest region stretches across the northeastern part of France, close to the German border. The oak growing in this mountainous region is larger, with a medium-fine grain compared with other oak forests in France. Vosges oak tends to soften the wine’s tannins, giving a rich mouthfeel. It is an excellent option for adding freshness and density to wines.
100% integrated production
Throughout the year, buyers from the Charlois Group, which has included Tonnellerie Berthomieu since 2006, scour France’s largest forests in search of the finest oaks to be used in the manufacture of wine barrels. Tree by tree, they appraise the oaks selected by the ONF or the forestry expert, according to a rigorous management plan designed to renew the forests while respecting biodiversity.
Thanks to the Charlois group, which supplies 100% of its stavewood, Tonnellerie Berthomieu is able to guarantee a perfectly regular supply of oak raw material every year, both qualitatively and economically, thanks to large purchasing volumes.
The stavewood used for Berthomieu barrels is exposed to natural, open-air ageing in pollution-free yards not far from the Bertranges forest, for a minimum period of 24 months.
100% PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) French oak.
Tonnellerie Berthomieu is committed to the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and Bureau Veritas Certification certifies that Tonnellerie Berthomieu / Ermitage complies with the criteria defined for PEFC chain-of-custody certification (BV/CdC/2172175 f) set out in the guidelines issued by PEFC.
*Berthomieu barrels and the stavewood used to make them (Maison Charlois) have been awarded the “Origine France Garantie” label.
**A forest terroir refers to an area of land with homogeneous physical and biological characteristics: soil, geomorphology, exposure, rainfall, sunshine, to which must be added a type of species, a plantation density and an average age, all of which influence the grain and quality of the wood.
Photography Ó Christophe Deschanel
