Schneckenleitner - Supplier Spotlight
Since 2019, Bouchard Cooperages has been pleased to represent SCHNECKENLEITNER Austrian Oak Puncheons, Casks & Tanks in North America. Family-owned and operated since 1880, Schneckenleitner, based in Waidhofen an der Ybbs, is one of Austria's and the world's premier puncheon and large-format cooperages, producing over 180 large-format tanks a year for the world's most prestigious cellars.
Given our experience and the nature of custom large-format oak tanks for winemaking, we prefer to release next year's pricing as early as possible to provide adequate time for wineries to order and Schneckenleitner to deliver. Please see below the newest product offerings from Schneckenleitner including conical operating tanks as well as 2025 pricing and options for those interested in getting the ball rolling early.
Vertically Integrated Stave mill
Unique to Schneckenleinter is their onsite stave mill, where the family receives entire logs that they have preselected in Austria's tight-grain Wiedling forest located in the foothills of the Austrian Alps. The Schneckenleitner family, therefore, controls the entire process in-house, from selecting, splitting, milling, and aging their staves outside their cooperage, which borders the Ybbs River and thick forests. Thus, benefitting from an abundance of different micro-flora that optimally season the oak before coopering.
Puncheons - 500L - 800L
Schneckenleitner offers puncheons from 500L - 800L in 45 mm thick stave and is available in two toast ranges: Austrian Oak Elegance (AOE) and Austrian Oak Complex (AOC). The AOE range is intended for whites and light reds, while the AOC is for richer whites and darker reds. The signature impact of tight-grain Austrian Weidling Oak is a delicate spice and flavor and impeccable craftsmanship.
Ovals - 10HL + Austrian Cooper's claim to fame and their prestigious image in the International winemaking community is based on the quality of their oval casks. Schneckenleitner coopers more ovals than any other of their large format tanks. Ovals also represent a great way to max out the floorspace of your winery and, for fermenting and aging white wines, allowing for less lees to juice contact.
Rounds - 10 HL+
Similar to a large barrel, round casks occupy slightly more cellar space. Traditionally, they are used more for the élevage of reds, especially in France's Rhône Valley for Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, etc., but also in Bordeaux and especially in Italy for Italian reds. The option of a flushed or more centrally located external hatch door is based on the customer's preference.
New Offering - Conical Tanks 10 HL+
Based on demand and some recent placements, conical-operating Schneckenleitner tanks are now available in North America. The tanks can be offered based on custom sizes and options and are traditionally used for fermenting and aging reds. However, some clients also do ask for no external hatch door and use them for fermenting and aging whites.
New Cooperage In 2022, Schneckenleitner inaugurated the renovation and expansion of their cooperage. Their coopers can now work more comfortably, and everything is now based in one place, including their wood park, which uniquely benefits from a microclimate of dense forest on one side and a river on the other.
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