Keystone Cooperage is a family owned company located in Southwestern Pennsylvania, home to the world's finest White Oak (Quercus alba) timberland.

Keystone Cooperage is an extension of the Wilson brother's parent company Wilson Forest Products. Wilson Forest Products has developed deep roots in the wine industry. Since 1931, Wilson Forest Products has exclusively catered to the wine industry in the form of export grade staves and heading for some of the largest cooperages in the world. The brothers, Mike and Brian are now the third generation owners of a truly family owned business.

Keystone Cooperage utilizes cooperage stock solely from Wilson Forest Products; no outside sources are used, insuring quality control and traceability. Every log that passes through Wilson Forest Product's gate is graded by qualified and experienced staff to maximize yield, reduce waste and retrieve the highest quality possible. Each log is graded for external and internal defects, and grain structure.

Once the milling and grading process is complete, the freshly sawn staves and heading are transferred to our air-drying yards. In the drying yards the staves and heading are exposed to the wind, sun and rain, as well as, snow. We feel that our location is ideal for air seasoning due to our abundant rainfall. On average we receive 60 to 70 inches of rain and snowfall per year. Add that with our hot dry summers, and you get the perfect climate for air seasoning. The typical air-drying program is 24 months, or the option of 36 months. These months of air-drying insure that the winemaker will be getting the best the wood has to offer. This maximizes the seasoning process, a necessary part of the barrel building cycle. We feel that there are 3 essential parts to the cycle, 1.) Milling of the proper piece of wood. 2) Air seasoning. 3) The toasting of each barrel.

After proper seasoning has occurred, the staves and heading are brought into the cooperage for barrel assembly. Once initial set-up is complete the barrels are ready for toasting, the third part of the cycle. Toasting is a very important step, as this is where the real commitment of the cooper shines through. That's why we take great care and pride when toasting your barrels, we want to give you what you ask for, and nothing less will do. We offer standard toast levels, light, medium, medium plus and heavy. We slowly toast your barrels to maximize toast penetration. Each barrel is closely monitored visually and with a laser temperature gauge to insure that your barrel is toasted to your specifications.

Once final construction is completed each barrel is tested for leaks or blemishes. We wrap each barrel separately in protective plastic film and labeled with your address to speed up the delivery process.