Our Barrels

Each barrel is handmade from carefully selected American white oak that has been toasted according to our specifications.

In the early 1970s, Silver Oak was one of the first California wineries to age its wines in American oak barrels, rather than French oak barrels that had been the industry standard for years. Our founding winemaker, Justin Meyer, discovered the barrels contributed less harsh tannins than French oak and had a fresh, spicy character that provided a wonderful complement to our fruit-forward wines. Today, the use of American oak continues to be a hallmark of our distinctive Cabernet Sauvignons.

To ensure the long-term availability of first-rate American oak barrels, Silver Oak formed a partnership with A & K cooperage in 2000. Located in Higbee, Missouri, 40 miles north of Columbia, A & K Cooperage is a small, family-owned company that has produced premium barrels for over 30 years. Each 59-gallon barrel is handmade from carefully selected American white oak that has been toasted according to our specifications.

According to winemaker Daniel Baron, “Silver Oak wines undergo an extensive aging process to achieve their opulent, well-rounded flavors, so the quality of our barrels is essential. The Missouri white oak barrels produced by A&K have the perfect balance of spice and vanilla flavors to enhance the black fruit characters of our wines.”

A & K Cooperage and Silver Oak Cellars have purchased several hundred acres of American white oak timberland in Missouri. The timber will be harvested at the optimum time to maintain a constant supply of wood for many years to come.

Partner in A&K Coooperage, Dale Kirby, demos barrel making at Release Day in Geyserville.

Part of our winemaking team in a white oak forest in Higbee, Missouri.

A & K Cooperage toasts the barrels from the bottom.