Nicholas KEELER, Director of Sales, North America
I graduated from Oregon State University with two Bachelor of arts degrees; one in International Business, the other in International studies and a minor in Spanish. Durning my studies I went to university in Barcelona where I was enchanted by the works of Dali, El Greco, Velazquez, Picasso and Gaudi. A year later I found myself in Oaxaca, Mexico studying Zapotec and Mayan art, savoring the bounty of the open air markets where numerous cultures gathered to sell their goods. Fond of travel, culture and art, my adventures introduced me to the world of wine.
Thanks to an introduction and recommendation from a friend, Rick DeFerrari of Oregon Barrel Works, I was presented with an opportunity to learn about French cooperage. In 2005, I met Jacky Allary and Michel Simonnet who were visiting the west coast looking for a US agent. We tasted wines together and fortune favored me that day as Jacky offered me the opportunity to represent his cooperage in the US.
Today, with over 15 years experience as the North American sales director for Tonnellerie Allary, I have visited historic French forests and tasted in famous cellars worldwide acquiring expert knowledge of French oak cooperage, forests, seasoning, fermentation, aging and many aspects of winemaking. Tasting highlights include; Jean-Marc Roulot, Thibaud Liger-Belair, Antoine Olivier, Diana Seysses, Christian Moreau, Roberto Conterno, Luisa Rocca, Fabrizio Benedetti (thank you, Gian Maria Barosio) Cheval Blanc, Leoville Poyferre, Beausejour Becot, Chateau Kirwan (thank you, Michel Simonnet) and Alberto Rubio of Vino Fluxus in Mexico. In the US there are far too many talented winemakers and friends to list who have all helped shape my career.
We have grown our business steadily through diligent work, learning about our customer's needs, trialling barrels, tasting, adjusting toast levels all in order to obtain the highest level results for each client's needs. Experience allows me to accurately offer our clients the best recommendations for their wines without losing time. Our aim is that our customers expectations are exceeded by Tonnellerie ALLARY. I remain grateful for the opportunity to earn your confidence and long term support for one of the best and most respected family owned cooperages in France, Tonnellerie ALLARY.
Jacky ALLARY, President
Born in 1962, he is a second generation master cooper and president of Tonnellerie Allary. His dad Roger remembers when he was just learning to walk that he was already curious about his father's work and fascinated with the art of making barrels.
To watch Jacky work is incredible, he is a true oak alchemist with a passion for his craft. Jacky himself was twice awarded MEILLEUR OUVRIER DE FRANCE and the talent for the art of cooperage runs strong through Jacky's veins. He is well respected by his peers and customers alike and knows how to do everybody's job in the cooperage.
Jacky has the connections and access to the best forests and most prestigious oak in all of France. A very important aspect for the future of our cooperage is that Jacky possess the desire to grow and maintain an honest family business. He does not to wish sell to a big corporation and he always will maintain a large stock of well seasoned oak. This allows our customers to have confidence in Tonnellerie ALLARY and they can rely on consistency in quality from year to year.
Born in 1962, he is a second generation master cooper and president of Tonnellerie Allary. His dad Roger remembers when he was just learning to walk that he was already curious about his father's work and fascinated with the art of making barrels.
To watch Jacky work is incredible, he is a true oak alchemist with a passion for his craft. Jacky himself was twice awarded MEILLEUR OUVRIER DE FRANCE and the talent for the art of cooperage runs strong through Jacky's veins. He is well respected by his peers and customers alike and knows how to do everybody's job in the cooperage.
Jacky has the connections and access to the best forests and most prestigious oak in all of France. A very important aspect for the future of our cooperage is that Jacky possess the desire to grow and maintain an honest family business. He does not to wish sell to a big corporation and he always will maintain a large stock of well seasoned oak. This allows our customers to have confidence in Tonnellerie ALLARY and they can rely on consistency in quality from year to year.
Roger ALLARY, Founder
The year was 1950 and in the small village of Juillac Le Coq (near Cognac) Mr. Roger Allary married his lovely wife and rented a very old home. The winters were quite cold, the home was not well finished and the young couple could see the sky through the ceiling. Mr. Allary and his wife well remember the long, hard nights together and dreaming of a better home.
Roger always had a talent for woodworking and was lucky enough to be mentored by a master cooper in the region. At this time the training was called "hand-made trainee cooper". Roger had to craft a 400L barrel alone and only by hand. A very difficult task indeed. Normally the training lasts 3 years but Roger was a talent, he learned quickly. After learning the art he enrolled in “service militaire” (mandatory for 3 months in the early 1950's and Roger stayed an additional 2 years until the year 1952).
After his military service was completed Roger came back to Juillac Le Coq where he started his own cooperage as a craft job. Roger made barrels and large-sized tanks of 30HL, 60HL and even sometimes 120HL with only the help of his wife. The Allary Tradition would not be possible without the years of help and support of Mr. Roger Allary's wife.
Through years of hard work, skill and determination Mr. Roger Allary pruchased his own land in 1971 in Archiac, France where Tonnellerie Allary is now located. To this day Mr. Roger Allary still works in our cooperage and overseas the artisan workshop.
The year was 1950 and in the small village of Juillac Le Coq (near Cognac) Mr. Roger Allary married his lovely wife and rented a very old home. The winters were quite cold, the home was not well finished and the young couple could see the sky through the ceiling. Mr. Allary and his wife well remember the long, hard nights together and dreaming of a better home.
Roger always had a talent for woodworking and was lucky enough to be mentored by a master cooper in the region. At this time the training was called "hand-made trainee cooper". Roger had to craft a 400L barrel alone and only by hand. A very difficult task indeed. Normally the training lasts 3 years but Roger was a talent, he learned quickly. After learning the art he enrolled in “service militaire” (mandatory for 3 months in the early 1950's and Roger stayed an additional 2 years until the year 1952).
After his military service was completed Roger came back to Juillac Le Coq where he started his own cooperage as a craft job. Roger made barrels and large-sized tanks of 30HL, 60HL and even sometimes 120HL with only the help of his wife. The Allary Tradition would not be possible without the years of help and support of Mr. Roger Allary's wife.
Through years of hard work, skill and determination Mr. Roger Allary pruchased his own land in 1971 in Archiac, France where Tonnellerie Allary is now located. To this day Mr. Roger Allary still works in our cooperage and overseas the artisan workshop.
