Mendocino Cooperage" Barrels Available Once Again

Mendocino Cooperage barrels are being re-introduced to the U.S. market and will be available through Oakasion, LLC of Healdsburg, California. The “Mendocino Cooperage” brand is to be produced by Okanagan Barrel Works of Oliver British Columbia.

For many years the Mendocino Northern oak barrels from 36 month aged Northern American oak were made in Hopland California. At its peak, Mendocino Cooperage made about 45,000 barrels a year, but the number fell to 18,000 in 2004. The cooperage was owned by Brown Forman Corp., which closed it in 2004.

Brown Forman dropped its rights to the brand name, which became available again. The barrels being reintroduced to the market come from the same wood sources, wood sources, and toasting regiment as before, according to Norm Leighty of Oakasion. “The only difference is the actual construction is being done by Okanogan Barrel Works,” he said. “The key in barrels is wood source, wood aging and toasting.”

Mendocino Cooperage barrels are available in both 36 month aged Northern oak and 24 month aged Appalachian oak. Both Bordeaux and Burgundy styles are available.

The cooperage’s northern oak comes from the northwestern edge of the species’ natural range, where Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa converge- the Northern Heartland. According to the company, “Forests in this region are subjected to harsh winters with extreme cold and heavy snowfall. Growing seasons are short. Mature, well-drained, limestone-based soils, that predate the last ice age, anchor this area’s oak forest on cool, moist ravine slopes. These slopes create ideal aspects that protect the trees from harsh sun and dry westerly winds. All this contributes to the slow growth of uniform, undisturbed, high-quality timber.”

For more information, contact Leighty via www.Oakasion.com

Website: www.Oakasion.com