The last barrel maker of his region
- José is nicknamed Zé Espiga
- He inherited his workshop, his craft and his nickname
- He uses over 16 types of wood in his barrels
The third generation of a barrel-making family, José Quintão says that his professional name is also inherited, as his father and grandfather were also nicknamed Zé Espiga. The last cooper from Bucelas, a town with a winemaking tradition once known for its coopers, Zé Espiga prides himself on keeping his craft intact, using inherited tools and keeping his technique as pure as possible, working in what he calls an “almost medieval way”. Barrels have historical significance for his country, Portugal, which has a heritage in wine production. Manual barrel production has been greatly reduced, especially with the development of industrial production in oak-rich countries. Today, oak barrels have taken over a market with over 16 traditional wood choices.
Interview
- When did you start barrel making?
- As my father was already in the trade, I was fascinated by observing his work and that of his assistants, but it was only after I had finished my studies, at the age of 23, that I really started to make barrels out of passion.
- Is barrel making a tradition in your region?
- In this region there were many barrels makers, and this was passed down through generations. Today, I am the last of this tradition, the next closest cooper is in the south. I am here as the third generation: my tools and my workshop are more than a hundred years old.
- Do most people know how a barrel is made?
- When people look at a barrel, they don’t even think about how it is made. They assume that the wood has been previously rounded, but they cannot imagine that the secret is a matter of geometry and that each barrel is rounded by a fireplace that we make inside it.
- What do you love most about your profession?
- The relationship with the clients. I find great satisfaction in listening to the clients’ ideas, interpreting them and feeling their joy when the product is ready. I also enjoy the sales process.
José Quintão is a master artisan: he began his career in 1983 and he started teaching in 1997
