AP John Coopers in the Barossa Valley has seen a lot of challenges in its 130-year history and has managed to survive them all.
And so it is with the coronavirus.
It’s business as usual for the Tanunda-based cooperage and everything is ticking along nicely.
“We’ve been very fortunate to stay open and be able to complete all of this year’s vintage orders,” owner Peter John says.
“It’s taken a bit of adjustment, but the cooperage crew as well as the sales and admin teams have all still been hard at work.
“We’ve kept the whole team employed and the cooperage operating at full capacity.”
AP John has plenty to keep the coopers busy including export orders for Spain and the US as well as spirit barrels, which is a growth area.
There’s also still demand for the secondhand barrel market including for half-barrel planter tubs.
“If there’s a winery that needs to top up with a couple of extra barrels for a premium parcel of V20, we can still manufacture something quickly for them because we’re the local cooper,” Peter says.
“We’re trying to share that positive, productive message with everyone we come in contact with.”
While the sales team isn’t travelling interstate, they are making sure they stay in touch with winemakers across the country.
“We are making sure we keep closely connected with the wine community which has always been a hallmark of our business,” Peter says.
While it’s no secret that yields are down in 2020, people are talking up the quality.
“We’re getting a lot of feedback about high quality,” Peter says.
And the greatest news of all.
The sixth generation of the family has arrived – Aston Peter John, son of Alex and Kimberley John.
The Barossa is no longer a coronavirus hot spot.
And to top off a positive wine story in the Barossa Valley, it’s raining.
Photos: John Krüger
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