Barrel Oak Collection

For the wine enthusiast, there is no handle more authentic than Barrel Oak. This is not just wood, it is a retired artifact from the winemaking process. Crafted from the staves of authentic French oak wine barrels, this material carries the physical memory of the vintages it once nurtured.

Visually, this handle offers a feature that no fresh timber can replicate. While the body of the wood displays the tight, noble grain of French Oak, the defining characteristic is the deep red or purple stain where the wine penetrated the wood during the aging process. To highlight this unique "fingerprint," the handle is shaped with a flat surface (similar to the Aubrac Cow Horn handles). This deliberate shaping choice preserves the wine-stained layer, ensuring the colourful evidence of the barrel's previous life is clearly visible rather than sanded away.

Where can it be found? This wood is reclaimed directly from French wineries. After years of aging fine wines, barrels eventually lose their ability to impart flavour and are retired. Forge de Laguiole reclaims these staves, giving the high-quality oak a second life as a luxury tool.

Where else is it used? Beyond aging wine and spirits (like Cognac and Whiskey), reclaimed barrel oak has become a trendy material for high-end flooring and rustic furniture. The tight grain of French Oak specifically is prized by coopers (barrel makers) because it prevents leakage while allowing the wine to "breathe" just enough to mature perfectly.

Did you know? The oak barrel is an ingredient, not just a container. During aging, the alcohol acts as a solvent, extracting compounds from the wood such as vanillin and lactones. This is exactly why many Chardonnays taste buttery or why certain reds have a hint of vanilla and spice, that flavour is the direct gift of the oak to the wine.