Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/450857
32 Wines&Vines February 2015 Barrels Martin McCarthy, sales and marketing man- ager for Tonnellerie Radoux, said the American oak situation is more than just demand for whiskey barrels. He said the U.S. timber indus- try has still not recovered from the recession that ground new home construction to a halt. Many log cutters left the trade to find work elsewhere. The regions where American oak is harvested also suffered wet summers in recent years, making it impossible to cut trees as well. "All at the same time bourbon is exploding," he said, adding it was almost a "perfect storm" to constrict the supply of oak for wine barrels. Radoux has had to raise its American oak prices, but McCarthy said that increase didn't reflect the true cost increase it saw for wood. "As the wine guys know, you can only absorb part of the price increases until that catches up with you," he said. The Radoux American oak barrel now priced around $450, while French oak ranges from $700 to $1,300, and European is in the high $600s per barrel. Vincent Nadalie, director of sales for Nadalie USA, said the cooperage will raise the price for its American oak barrel, but he's still not sure exactly how much. He credited the lack of American oak due to whiskey demand and added he hopes the popularity of brown spirits will wane in the next two to three years, as most consumer trends are apt to do. Cooper Cesar Villagomez raises a barrel at Seguin Moreau Napa Cooperage. seguin moreau