The timber our coopers use is grown locally, high in the mountains at about 1700 metres above sea level. The beech trees are not farmed, they grow naturally on the mountain.

Before any tree can be felled it is inspected by the forest rangers who make sure that the forests are preserved and not over harvested. Some of the beech is several hundred years old and is often selected for felling to allow young trees to grow. This ensures the forest remains healthy and vital.

Felling and hauling the trees on these mountain sides can be a dangerous process. The rangers often refuse to allow lorries to work in the dense forest, in which case local horses are used to avoid damaging saplings and young growth. In an area of high unemployment, forest work provides an income for the local villagers.

Once the logs are taken to the barrel factory, they are sprayed with water to preserve them, and to prevent them drying and cracking.

These lengths are soaked in boiling water for two minutes to make them pliable and are then drawn together to form the familiar barrel shape.