Silver Oak buys barrel builder
Oakville-based Silver Oak Cellars is staving off concerns about consistent supply of American oak barrels with the purchase of full ownership of Missouri-based A&K Cooperage.
The Napa Valley vintner had acquired a half-interest in the cooperage in 2000, a year after St. Helena-based Beringer Wine Estates, now Australia-based Treasury Wine Estates, opened a Cloverdale cooperage for American and French oak barrels. Treasury sold its Winemakers Cooperage five years ago to Groupe Charlois of France.
Silver Oak said the decision to get full ownership of the Missouri operation, now called The Oak Cooperage, helps maintain exacting barrel-making standards and secure a consistent supply of aged stave wood, according to the company. While Silver Oak has focused exclusively on cabernet sauvignon aged in American oak barrels since 1972, the opportunity comes amidst a dramatic increase in demand for premium American white oak, fueled by the international market as well as the rise in U.S.-produced artisanal whiskeys and bourbons.
“We are excited to extend our philosophy of innovation and constant improvement at every step of the winemaking process to The Oak Cooperage,” said Silver Oak President and CEO David Duncan. “Having control over our oak barrel needs and production makes complete sense from both an excellence and cost-control standpoint.”
The acquisition will give the winemakers control over quality standards such as the selection, aging and toasting of its American oak barrels, he said.
Located in Higbee, Mo., the cooperage has produced American oak barrels primarily for wineries since Dale Andrews and son-in-law Dale Kirby started it in 1972. Andrews died in 1996, then Kirby ran the business. After partnering with Silver Oak, the companies jointly purchased several hundred acres of prime Missouri oak timberland.
Silver Oak will continue to focus on the quality and consistency of its classic 59-gallon American oak wine barrels, prior to expanding into other categories, according to Silver Oak General Manager Tony LeBlanc.
“We have a great team at the cooperage, and we are excited about preserving and continuing this time-honored craft,” LeBlanc said.
Started in 1972, Silver Oak is still owned and operated by the Duncan family, who also founded Twomey Cellars, a producer of six distinct California pinot noir winess, an estate sauvignon blanc, and a single-vineyard merlot in consultation with Chateau Petrus’ Jean Claude Berrouet.
In addition to the cooperage, Silver Oak has four wineries and tasting rooms located in the Napa Valley, Alexander Valley and Russian River Valley and 15 estate vineyards.
