Some people look at oak trees and see hardwood for a great winter fire.
Rick DeFerrari looks at oak trees and sees wine barrels. Especially if they're Oregon oak. With his Oregon oak barrels, DeFerrari is making inroads in the wine industry, even the formidable French section, which has set wine and barrel standards for centuries. Ore. He and his workers produce Oregon oak for about 2,500 barrels a year. Becoming a barrel maker, or cooper, was never in DeFerrari's plans.