STEPHAN ASSEO

Simpatico Artisans

Stephan Asseo works and lives by his own style – and he expects the same from his cooper. “I make the wine of my place, then I like to drink it,” he says. “If you like my taste, great.” To him, authenticity is the key to great wines, great relationships and great barrels. “When you are in this niche market, you need to keep your personality,” he explains. “Coopers, too, have to stand to their position and philosophy.” Stephan and Tonnellerie Ô Master Cooper Quinn Roberts share this common ground, which has paved the way for creating and perfecting the elusive long blond toast for L’Aventure’s Estate Cuvée. Based nearby, Quinn and his team visit the winery regularly to taste the wine and hear Stephan’s thoughts, then roll up their sleeves to interpret his taste in the style of the barrel. “The barrels have the responsibility of the wine for a long time, and you put your wine in the hands of the barrel,” Stephan says. “It’s therefore super important to have the full confidence of the barrel maker. I see the cooperage as a partner-to-partner relationship. I see Tonnellerie Ô as part of my team.”