Standard Cooperage has launched operations in Blanco, Texas, marking the first time the state has had a homegrown cooperage producing premium American white oak barrels for its craft spirits and wine industries. The family-owned business, which opened its doors in May 2026, offers fully customized barrels with no long-term purchase contracts required.
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READ THE STORYTexas ranks as the fourth-largest state for craft distilleries and the fifth-largest for wine production, yet its more than 200 distilleries and 500 wineries have until now lacked a local barrel supplier.
Founder Greg Standard built the cooperage in 2025 after a career spanning engineering, master sailboat captaincy, and custom homebuilding in the Texas Hill Country.
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"We started Standard Cooperage because we believe Texas producers deserve a true homegrown partner — a local one that shares their values and commitment to doing things the right way," said Standard. "For our family, integrity isn’t just a business word. It’s something we bring to work every single day, in how we source our wood, how we build our barrels, how we do business with a handshake, and treat our customers as family."
The cooperage sources 100% Quercus Alba timber from sustainably managed forests and completes the full production process onsite, from raw logs to pressure-tested barrels. Notably, it segregates logs from different regions to drive consistency in flavor profiles.
Sustainability is embedded in the operation. Standard Cooperage uses collected rainwater exclusively for steaming, relies on natural wood fires for toasting and charring with no chemical accelerants, and repurposes all wood byproducts to minimize waste.
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Dr. Bob Young, co-owner and executive winemaker at Bending Branch Winery, praised the development. "Having a Texas cooperage is a huge boost to the Texas wine and spirits industries that continues to evolve and define not only their terroir but also what sets Texas apart," he said.
John Schrepel, head distiller at Still Austin Whiskey Co., has already worked with the cooperage. "By integrating a stave mill and seasoning yard on site, Standard Cooperage embodies a commitment to uncompromising quality and artisanal excellence — a cooperage that is as much a work of art as it is a benchmark for the industry," Schrepel said. "Their barrels showcase meticulous craftsmanship and have delivered outstanding results."
Every barrel is customized to producer specifications, including regional wood selection, toast profile, and char level. The company requires no year-long purchase contracts, making its barrels accessible to small-batch startups and established producers alike.
