WHERE IT ALL STARTS - OAK

Oak is a passion for A.P. John Coopers. Once used almost exclusively in ship building, the slow growth of oak provides a dense grain and water tight seal perfect for barrel construction.

A.P. John source the very finest French and American Oak from the same mills and growers who have, in most instances, been valued suppliers to the company for well over fifty years. This generational relationship ensures timber supplies that are the envy of French and American cooperages – and the joy of Australian winemakers.

All timber is stored on site at the cooperage, with both French and American Oak air seasoned from between 15 and 36 months. Up to three year’s supply of timber is seasoning at any given time providing A.P. John with an annual production capacity of up to 30,000 barrels.

Every piece of timber is coded upon arrival and retains that code from raw material to finished product. Staves and head pieces are always milled from the same batch numbers to ensure consistency of flavour, indeed the identifying number remains with the oak until it is stamped onto the head of the finished barrel.