Premium European Oak Barrels.
About Us
We are a small cooperage based out of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, with strong ties to the Balkan region of Europe, Bosnia and Herzegovina in particular. Our cooperage specializes in some of the finest oak barrels used for the production of quality wines.
With a strong connection to the small Bosnian town of Prusac, we can guarantee the quality of oak used to make our barrels is of a high and proven standard. With a rich history spanning over 500 years in barrel making, Prusac has supplied oak barrels to wineries and vineyards in Croatia, Italy and the Herzegovina region for generations, and now Prusac Cooperage hopes to bring that rich history to North America.
Our Goal and Mission
We aim to bring the tradition of hand crafted Prusac oak barrels into North America and the "New World". We strongly believe that with our unequalled hand crafted tradition, and the skill and resources of the New World wine industry, we can produce some truly high quality and unique wines.
Prusac Cooperage
For any inquires regarding purchasing, product details, or any general questions, please feel free to contact us by leaving a message below along with your name, email address and phone number, and we will be sure to respond quickly.
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Environmental and Ecological Responsibility:
Our Country, Our Land, Our Responsibilty
The Barrel
Our classic 225L barrel is made of 100% oak from Bosnia and other parts of the Balkan region of Europe. The oak is dried and prepared for 36 months. Once the wood is ready, our cooper works his magic and creates each barrel with love and care and plenty of attention to detail. The planks are joined together and are initially sealed with steel rings on one side, as the barrel gets toasted from within to adjust the tannin profile. Once this is completed steel rings are hammered on to the other side. The standard 225L barrel has six rings, to ensure optimal tightness and a quality, leak free barrel.
The ideal oak tree grows in a cool climate, which gives it the chance to mature slowly and develop a desirable tight grain. This can be said for Balkan and particularly Bosnian oak. Prusac Cooperage works with two key species in oak barrel making. The first is the Quercus Robur, also found in many French barrels, and is typically more subtle and spicy offereing the texture of satin and silk. The second, Quercus Pertrea, or Sessile oak, is a species that offers a finer grain and is more sparse in its location throughout Europe.
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Handcrafted Precision
A great cooperage is in the hands of the cooper, and our cooper is one of the best. Due to the generational history and tradition of his craft, the classic oak barrel made by our head cooper has remained unchanged for decades. This is what makes our product stand out.
Quality wood is important, but it is nothing without experienced hands crafting that wood into something strong, functional, and beautiful.
Products/Services
We offer a variety of oak barrels, as well as non oak barrels such as cherry and birch. Our barrels normally come in two standard sizes: the classic 225L barrique as well as a 300L barrique. Different and unique sizes can be arranged as well. We also supply wineries with oak chips for stainless steel casks.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is home to some of the most beautiful and breathtaking landscapes in the world. The Bosnian landscape is in large part defined by its dense and rich forestry. As natives of this land, we understand that it is crucial that this nature is preserved and respected. All of the oak used for the creation of our barrels is carefully picked out and does not harm the general well being of the forests. We also plan to start a program wherein a percentage of all barrel sales go towards the planting of new trees.
