Our history

Famille-Rousseau_Didier Hugue @Traces Ecrites

It all started in 1954 with Julien Rousseau. At that time, he started the Tonnellerie Rousseau to focus on large formats. The company quickly became a family business: his 2 sons, Jean-Marie and Guy, joined the ranks of Rousseau coopers in the 1970s and 1980s.

In 1990, Jean-Marie Rousseau took over the management of the company, with the support of his wife Nicole, who joined the company to manage the administrative and financial part.

The next generation arrived in the 2000s! Jean-Christophe Rousseau in 2001: he joined the family business as a “foudrier”(cooper specialized in large vessels),once graduated from a cooperage trade school in Cognac.. He became director of the large vessel workshop in 2007. After studying business management and starting in finance and trade, he joined Tonnellerie Rousseau as sales director.

This complementarity between the two brothers is the strength of this 3rd generation, officially at the helm of Tonnellerie Rousseau since January 1, 2021. It is their turn to contribute to the family business which is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year.

A great story of transmission that Tonnellerie Rousseau shares with its customers: “We have customers who have followed us from the very beginning. They also passed on their estate from generation to generation and today we work with the grandchildren of our grandfather’s clients,” says Frédéric.

We fell into the barrel business when we were little !

Frédéric & Jean-Christophe Rousseau

1954
Tonnellerie Rousseau - Histoire

1954


Creation by Julien Rousseau
The cooperage originally specialized
in building and renovating large formats.

1973


Jean-Marie Rousseau
Julien’s son, decided to manufacture barrels as well.

1979


The workshop

settles in Couchey,
in Côte de Nuits

1985


Beginning of the barrel manufacturing activity
under the leadership of Jean-Marie
Rousseau,  Julien’s son

1990


Jean-Marie Rousseau

becomes General Manager

1991


Nicole Rousseau
joins the company

1994


Beginning of

exportation towards the US

2001


Jean-Christophe Rousseau

joins the company

2004


Frédéric Rousseau

joins the company as well

 


5 coopers
“Best Craftsmen of France” including Julien Rousseau.

 

Launch of the 1st barrel of the Expert range, called PIANO®

2007

Once again,
5 coopers,
« Best Craftsmen of France », including Jean-Marie and Jean-Christophe Rousseau

2008


As a tribute to the Best Craftsmen,

the new VIDEO® barrel is launched as part of the Expert range

2012


Rousseau obtains the
PEFC certificate

2014


We’re 60 !

The large formats
workshop moves in brand new facilities
in Gevrey-Chambertin

2015


A new « Cooper» is named “Best Craftsmen of France”.

2018


Launch of the 

Hexagone series

2019


Commitment to 

restoration of forests

2020


Extension of the log

storage platform 

2021


Transmission of management

to children,
parents retirement.

nowadays