In Grade 9 I began woodworking; now almost 50 years later I’m still refining my skills & building beautiful furniture.

In the summer of 2019, while visiting a vineyard in Virginia, I sat in an Adirondack chair made from wine barrel staves. I loved the way it looked, fit, and felt. And I knew I could design something even better.

Returning to Calgary, I researched similar chairs and built three prototypes before perfecting the “Rockarondack” design. Its rocking chair base added both comfort and durability to the frame, especially when moving it. I also realized that when my feet were fully extended horizontally, the chair went into perfect balance, so I integrated a retractable footrest. The notched wine glass holder is similar to other chairs but improved with an indent for a can or glass.

My Rockarondack work is a part-time passion. Each chair carries my unique attention to detail and excellence. Production runs start with four barrels to ensure the right quantity and size of staves to craft four matching chairs, all built on demand. I enjoy the challenge of repurposing wine barrels and handcrafting them into something exceptional—so much better than a garden planter!

Oak barrels are used to add taste and character to the wine they hold. I would love to share this experience and get you into a Rockarondack.

There’s no other chair like this!

—John Clayton