Over a glass of wine, two friends talk about their professions and their shared passion: craftsmanship. Marcus Marienfeld, a trained goldsmith who launched his innovative eyewear workshop in Brig 28 years ago, and Olivier Mounir, a third-generation winemaker from Cave du Rhodan in Salgesch. An idea emerged from their discussion. After numerous conversations, sketches, and prototypes, their joint project became a reality. Barrique Eyewear was born.
An incredible work of art, crafted from an oak tree that grew over decades and was then transformed into a barrique barrel. The wine from Cave du Rhodan matured in these fine barrels with great passion.
After the barrique barrel had served its purpose in winemaking, it was dismantled into its individual parts, and the staves were handed over to the Marcus Marienfeld eyewear manufacturer for further processing.
Marcus hand-selects the old oak wood, because only the finest barrel staves are chosen to become eyeglass frames. Oak is a relatively coarse, hard, and durable wood—one that breathes and lives, making it a wonderful raw material for eyeglass frames.
Marcus Marienfeld therefore mills—indeed, sculpts—the wood using a 5-axis milling machine in free three-dimensional space. As if by magic, the block of wood moves through free space while being machined by the coated milling cutter, layer by layer.
Customers can choose from the Petite Arvine, Heida, Humagne Rouge, and Cornalin varieties—all authentic, all local specialties.
Born from a whim of nature, perfected in the cellars of the Cave du Rhodan, brought to life in Marcus Marienfeld’s eyewear workshop, infused with the finest wines of Valais — the wearer can sense it and perceive it: the scent of their history, accompanied by the wine that has aged in their barrel — Barrique Eyewear.
