Julien Tonneau:
Julien Tonneau is Production Manager at Tonnellerie Cadus and a trainer for apprentice coopers.
A BACKGROUND COMBINING ENGINEERING AND A PASSION FOR WOOD
An Arts & Métiers engineer specializing in wood, Julien began his career in the international concrete industry, working on major projects in Egypt and Tunisia. After several years and two revolutions, he chose to return to Burgundy, where chance – and no doubt his predestined name! – led him to the Cadus cooperage.
Immersed in the world of wine thanks to his wife, a winegrower in the Mâconnais region, he passionately discovered the cooper’s trade, combining craftsmanship with the complexity of the wine industry. He is now in charge of organizing and managing barrel production at Atelier Cadus. A music and guitar enthusiast, he finds in woodworking a double pleasure: that of creating and sublimating wine.
THE COOPER’S CRAFT, ESSENTIAL TO THE WORLD OF WINE
The cooper transforms the oak into barrels through key stages such as wood selection, machining, toasting to reveal the aromas and final assembly, creating a fascinating object that will directly influence the structure and evolution of the wines. Several qualities are essential to this profession: respect for wood, rigor, physical stamina and a passion for precise manual work…
As production manager, Julien is responsible for optimizing schedules and managing the expertise of each cooper to ensure smooth production – while seeking out innovations to lighten handling or improve barrel quality.
PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE THROUGH APPRENTICESHIPS AND FOREST MANAGEMENT
Julien always keeps his door open for his teams: “It’s important to always listen to and motivate the coopers”. “We take on a new apprentice every year, because passing on the craft is another of my responsibilities. We train them to ensure the next generation takes over, because contrary to popular belief, our trade attracts many enthusiasts!”
“The cooperage is committed to a sustainable approach and we only work with French oak from forests managed by the ONF. We are also involved in a reforestation program with Naudet Nurseries, with over 100,000 trees replanted to date”.
To find out more, read Julien's interview on the Studyrama website:
