860 Napa Valley Corporate Way Suite C, Napa, CA, United States of America, 94558

http://www.bouchardcooperages.com

(707) 257-3582

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BILLON Spotlight - Beaune, France

History:

TONNELLERIE BILLON SA was founded in 1947 by Gaston BILLON and is located in Beaune Burgundy. The cooperage was purchased by the Damy family to become the sister cooperage of Meursault's Tonnellerie DAMY. Positioned in the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuit's largest city; Beaune, the cooperage has built a strong reputation amongst BurgundToday
Tonnellerie Billon annually produces around 10,000 barrels a year and has 2 hectares dedicated for wood seasoning, 2 hectares for barrel production, and a 4,000 square meter shop workshop that employs 20 coopers. The current CEO of the cooperage, Vincent Damy was awarded the prestigious "Meilleur Ouvrier de France" title in 2007 and overseas production at Tonnellerie Billon. y chardonnay and pinot producers.
 
Today:
Tonnellerie Billon annually produces around 10,000 barrels a year and has 2 hectares dedicated for wood seasoning, 2 hectares for barrel production, and a 4,000 square meter shop workshop that employs 20 coopers. The current CEO of the cooperage, Vincent Damy was awarded the prestigious "Meilleur Ouvrier de France" title in 2007 and overseas production at Tonnellerie Billon.

The Cooperage:
Tonnellerie Billon located in Beaune represents a state-of-the-art cooperage equipped with the most up-to-date Monnot cooperage machines. Oak is sourced from 10 different stave mills including longtime partner, Merrains du Jura located in the Jura region of France. To reduce its carbon footprint, the cooperage is involved in local forest replanting initiatives with partner Pépinières Naudet but is also planting different species of trees around the cooperage to encourage biodiversity in its wood park. All remaining bits of wood scraps are used to heat the cooperage during the winter in a furnace.

Range:
The Billon traditional range includes French oak and acacia forest-origin barrels and puncheons (115L - 820L) where the level of air-dry (2-Y up to 5-Y) can be selected along with the toasting profile that includes: L, LL, Chauffe 180 min, M, ML, M+ and Heavy. However, following years of research and collaboration with selected Domaines, Billon also offers an "Innovation Range" of barrels that are based either on grain tightnesses, forest blends, steam bending, and toasting profiles done only over embers.

Why Tonnellerie Billon?
Tonnellerie Billon is one of the most traditional and historical cooperages in Burgundy. Located in Beaune, the cooperage is near the Côte de Beaune's most famous chardonnay producers and the Côte de Nuits' most famous pinot noir producers. Billon barrels have traditionally offered a stunning ability to respect the wine and be true to the varietal by showcasing the fruit on the nose and palate. What Billon barrels do contribute to the wine is a subtle aromatic savoriness and slight structure with lots of length, verticality, and an enhanced mineral finish on the palate. 

About

Supplier of premium French, Hungarian, Austrian and American oak barrels, casks and tanks from: Billon, Damy, Maury, Schneckenleitner, European Coopers Hungary and Master Coopers. Exclusive access to Canadell French Oak Alternatives. Italian concrete tanks from CLC Vasche, jarres from Vin et Terre, Opuses from Drunk Turtle, amphora from Artenova and stainless steel eggs from Egginox.

The Company Story:

Vincent Bouchard founded Bouchard Cooperages in 1979 on one basic principle:  to give Winemakers access to the finest custom-fabricated French oak barrels - in time for harvest and at minimal expense - year after year. 

Since then, there have been a lot of changes in the barrel business, and Bouchard Cooperages has been at the forefront of much of the innovation (studies on toast levels, forest origin, and the geography of stave aging, as well as the introduction of the silicone bung and the shrink-wrapping of barrels).  In 2009, we began experimenting on the true effect of atmospheric conditions on stave aging.  Our goal is to determine precisely when staves are ready for barrel fabrication, depending on specific geographic and climatic factors (a 3-year aged stave may not be ready if there was a drought for 2 of those 3 years).  Last year we also introduced the "electronic signature," effectively allowing our Winemakers to approve orders from their laptops or smart phones.  And this year, all of our Coopers began emailing their invoices in an effort to not only save paper, but to save our Customers time and money with accounts payable processing.

Through all of these changes, our core principle remains the same.  We pride ourselves in developing long-term relationships with both our Winemakers and our Coopers.  We believe it is only through this on-going collaboration that we can help Winemakers to consistently realize their winemaking passion.

Simply said, we are forever committed to helping our Coopers craft a better barrel, and to helping our Winemakers craft a better wine.  Our team of Sales Consultants pride themselves on meeting with Winemakers, tasting through their wines, and helping them find the best match for a particular varietal, terroir, and individual winemaking style.

With over 30 years of experience and a global presence, we are also experts in logistics – from container consolidation to exchange rate fluctuation risk management - firmly committed to unparalleled customer service. 

Contact

Contact List

Title Name Email Phone Extension
Founder, General Manager Vincent Bouchard offices@bouchardcooperages.com 707-257-3582
International Barrel Consultant Carrie Tides carrie@bouchardcooperages.com 707-695-8222
Oregon & New Zealand Sales Manager Roberta Manell-Montero rmm@bouchardcooperages.com 503-724-2744
International Oak Alternatives Consultant Sarah Lanzen sarah@bouchardcooperages.com 707-592-9961
Eastern Canada Barrel Consultant Mary Delaney mabourgogne@sympatico.ca 905-932-3942
Accounting Director Kris Conemac kris@bouchardcooperages.com 707-256-2812
International Logistics Rachel Bobbs rachel@bouchardcooperages.com 707-256-2813
Australia National Sales Representative and Intern Amber Glastonbury amber@bouchardcooperages.com
General Sales Paolo Bouchard paolo@bouchardcooperages.com 707-287-0727

Location List

Locations Address State Country Zip Code
Bouchard Cooperages 860 Napa Valley Corporate Way Suite C, Napa CA United States of America 94558

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