Below are some of the most common questions we are asked. If you do not find the answer that you need, please contact us.
- 1. Who does what at Bouchard Cooperages?
The Bouchard Cooperages team is a talented group of experienced wine industry
professionals.
- Jurgen Zielonka - Technical information, order placement and barrel repairs.
- Vincent Bouchard - Technical information and international consulting.
See our Staff Directory with phone numbers.
- 2. Is email communication recommended?
We find that many of our customers use email on a regular basis. In the future, this will be our preferred method of communication with you, particularly to inform you of barrel shipments, special promotions and stock barrel availability.
We are updating our records. If you have not received an email from us in the past six months, we may not have an email address for you. If you would like to be on our email list, please contact us at with your name and winery affiliation.
- 3. How do I get your current price list?
Either call us and we will send you a copy or download them from our website by submitting our price list request form.
- 4. Payment in Euros - how is this done?
The short answer is by wire transfer or bank draft, payable directly to the Coopers. Your bank can do it for you, or we recommend Custom House Global Foreign Exchange, (tel: 08 8221 6646) which simply involves a phone call.
Here's the more detailed answer. Our coopers require payment in Euros for French and European oak barrels. This is due to the potential for significant currency fluctuations between the time your order is placed and your invoice is due. In some cases, this time period can be six months or more.
When payment is due, it is relatively easy to request a wire transfer from your bank. Our coopers' wire instructions are printed on every invoice. You can also mail your payment, if you'd like. Many banks are able to provide you with a bank draft in Euros. Another option is to use a currency exchange specialist such as Custom House.
Our office is always available to assist you with paying your invoices. We will do everything in our power to make your transaction as painless as possible. For more information on our payment options please call us at (08) 8251 6150 or send us an email.
- 5. How can I determine currency exchange rates?
Use the FX Converter at Oanda.com.
FXConverter (Foreign Exchange Currency Converter) is a multi-lingual Currency Converter with up to date exchange rates provided from leading market data contributors and is filtered for validity. To get the exchange rates for any of the 164 currencies, select the desired currencies, as well as the date, language, and amount for which you would like to conduct the currency conversion.
- 6. What is Early Delivery Pricing and why do we offer it?
We offer early order pricing as it offers advantages to both the coopers and wineries. Bringing the barrels in early allows the coopers to spread out their production and shipments so more wineries can be serviced during the year. Wineries that order early are not only rewarded with a significantly lower cost per barrel, but also receive the guarantee that they will have barrels in their cellars prior to harvest.
- 7. When will the ordered barrels arrive?
This information is on the order confirmation you receive from us. It includes the ETA into port for the container with your barrels. Please add a two-week margin to that date for actual delivery to your winery. For specific details, please call our office (08) 8251 6150 to speak with either Jurgen or Tammy.
- 8. When do I need to pay my invoice?
Upon approved credit terms, the invoice is payable net 30 days from the time that you receive notification from Bouchard Cooperages or the warehouse that your barrels are available for pickup or delivery.
- 9. How do I prepare my new barrels for use?
Please read these instructions on preparing new barrels. This traditional method will prepare your barrels for use after only 24 hours!
- 10. Can you give me exact barrel dimensions?
Absolutely. They are most easily viewed on our website (see the links below), or call us for a printed list per Cooper.
Read the stats on the barrels from:
- 11. Do you sell small barrels or tanks?
Yes! The following small barrels are available from Coopers Damy and Billon:
- 28 litre (7.4 gallon)
- 56 litre (15 gallon)
- 114 litre (30 gallon)
Learn more about our small barrels.
- 12. What about used barrels?
We do not sell used barrels, but can point you in the right direction. We recommend contacting:
- South Australia: SA Cooperage
- Victoria: Bendigo Coopers
- New South Wales: Gary Janssen, Spindles and Staves, Phone (02) 4938 1105 or 0413 994 237
- 13. Do you sell barrels to home-winemakers?
Yes, absolutely!
- 14. What is the smallest quantity of barrels you will sell?
One.
- 15. What is the
difference between American and French oak?
Read our special Forest Origin Comparison article.
- 16. Why are French oak barrels so much more expensive than American oak barrels?
The most significant reason is the smaller yield obtained from a log of French oak vs. American oak (see the next question). Another factor is the current high value of the Euro relative to the US dollar.
- 17. What is the difference between split vs. quarter-sawn wood?
French oak is physiologically different in structure than American oak, and requires hand splitting. This is one of the primary reasons why French oak barrels cost more than American oak barrels.
American oak (Quercus alba) is richer in tyloses, which seal the pores and tubes of the wood. This means American oak is generally less porous than the French variety. Being impermeable, the American oak can be sawn into staves rather than hand-split along the grain of the wood, as is required for French oak (Q. petraea and Q. robur), to prevent leakage. Sawing the oak into staves means that coopers can use over twice as much wood from each log in stave production.
- 18. What does a barrel do during the maturation process
to improve wine?
A barrel performs two important functions. It allows a very slow introduction of oxygen into the wine and imparts the character of the wood into the wine. This diagram is the best we have seen to explain this process.
- 19. I have a leaky barrel - how do I get it fixed?
First read about barrel repairs on our website. We have detailed directions on repairing both "end grain" and "side" leaks.
If you still have a question, please call our office (08) 8251 6150 and speak to Jurgen or Tammy who will make the necessary transport and repair arrangements.
- 20. What is the warranty on our barrels?
One year guarantee against leakage.
- 21. I've heard that there is no longer a 5% duty on imported barrels is this correct?
Yes and no. If the importer of oak wine barrels holds a Tradex Order and can demonstrate that imported barrels are being used in the production of export wines, the importer of the barrels is entitled to forgo the 5% duty on those barrels. At this time, Les Tonnelleries de Bourgogne (Billon & Damy) holds a Tradex Order and passes on these savings to the winemaker upon request (at the time of ordering). We have a one page form for wine producers to fill out indicating the proportion of the order that will be used for exported wines.
We have 4 years in which to advise AusIndustry of any changes to the proportion of the order used in export wines. For example, if you had intended to use 20% of the order in export wines, but due to unforeseen market circumstance, you sold half of that amount into the domestic market, then duty would be due and we need to advise AusIndustry.
In the event of an audit by Aus Industry, any discrepancy found would be charged to the coopers, who in turn would pass this additional cost onto the wine producer.
AusIndustry have advised that where wine producers don't have the records in place to accurately record the usage of the barrels in export versus domestic wines, they will accept the Industry-set percentage of wines sold into export versus domestic markets. This figure will be updated annually.
If you have any questions regarding whether this scheme applies to your circumstance please give us a call on (08) 8251 6150. If we can't answer your question we can put you in touch with the AusIndustry representative.
