Dramatic Decline in Cork Taint

ISSUE 27 ¹ july 2010

2 R E P O R T S T R E N G T H E N S GREEN CREDENTIALS

2 NEW TOP SERIES® SEALS WORLD’S OLDEST WHISKY

3 RECORK ON A STRONG FOOTING

3 UK SUPERMARKETS BACK AMORIM’S FSC CORK

4 Inbrief

D R A M AT I C D EC L I N E I N CORK TAINT !"#$%&'&$()*+,-$."/012*34"21$*5$)23#67$8"#$9*3.*:+4$;*3-2/,$-#$ <+:=#,,#47$"/4$/--#-$5:+8"#+$)#2>"8$8*$#?2-#3.#$*5$/$-+/0/82.$-#.,23#$23$ .*+@A+#,/8#-$)23#$5/:,84B DRAMATIC DECLINE IN CORK TAINT

The 2010 ‘world championship of wine’, the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, has added further weight to evidence of a dramatic decline in cork-related wine faults.

Of almost 7000 bottles opened at of wines opened and is consistent with oenologist and director of the Concours the prestigious event only one per cent findings from several recent wine events Mondial de Bruxelles. were identified as being affected by that have shown the incidence of cork Late last year at WineFuture in Spain, 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA). related taint to be either at or less than one internationally renowned wine critic Robert per cent. Staged in Palermo Sicily in April, the Parker conducted a grenache tasting for almost 600 guests at which the incidence of competition attracted wine samples from At last year’s Concours Mondial de TCA was less than one per cent. During the more than 50 countries and as in previous Bruxelles the wine faults assessment event Parker stated that cork quality had years event organisers conducted an recorded TCA at just below one per cent, clearly improved. analysis of wine faults. representing seven years of sustained decline in line with the anti-TCA measures In January, The Great Claret Tasting — Of the thousands of wines tasted the steadily introduced by major cork producers a review of over 200 Bordeaux wines from panel of about 270 international judges during this period. the 2006 vintage — had “hardly any cork- rejected 120 samples. From this batch 68 “While the TCA-taint controversy is tainted bottles” according to a report in were identified as being affected by TCA, progressively dying out, the cork stopper Britain’s Financial Times. commonly referred to as cork taint. is more than ever quality wines’ natural And last October the Washington-based This figure represented 1.03 per cent companion,” said Thomas Costenoble, French Wine Society emphasised that cork- related taint was not an issue at its annual conference. Over 500 bottles of wine were opened and only four were affected by TCA. The French Wine Society announcement followed a report in Vineyard & Winery Management by Dr Christian Butzke — a leading American professor of oenology and wine judge — that stated TCA was no longer a major problem for the US wine industry. Dr Butzke drew this conclusion after reviewing thousands of wines at the Indy International Wine Competition. Oenologist Michel Rolland — widely regarded as the world’s foremost wine consultant — echoed Butzke’s views when he told Argentina’s Clarín newspaper that today winemakers can use corks “without any problem”. Amorim’s chairman and CEO António Amorim said the 2010 Concours Mondial de Bruxelles had confirmed cork’s improved performance. “In recent years several major wine competitions have demonstrated the fact that cork quality has improved significantly,” he said. “The industry has made great progress on TCA and some of cork’s loudest > Recent wine events confirm a significant critics are now recognising that and improvement in the performance of cork closures. quietly acknowledging cork’s improved performance.” NEW TOP SERIES® SEALS WORLD’S OLDEST WHISKY Corticeira Amorim’s new Top Series® The stopper features a stylish metallic premium cork closure range is quickly cap and silver finish carefully designed to making its mark at the top-end of the match the decanter’s shape and its striking spirits market having been chosen to silver base. The packaging is completed seal the world’s oldest bottled single with a handmade Brazilian rosewood box. malt whisky. Corticeira Amorim’s director of Scottish whisky merchant Gordon & marketing and communications Carlos de MacPhail recently released the Mortlach Jesus said the company was delighted to > Amorim is funding a forestry 70-year-old whisky at a ceremony in have its new product play a prominent role technical advisory service. Edinburgh Castle with a price tag of in the packaging of such a special whisky. £10,000 a bottle. “The Top Series® range was developed to Its packaging has been carefully create custom-made packaging solutions REPORT STRENGTHENS selected and comprises a stunning for the premium sector of the spirits market teardrop-shaped hand-blown crystal utilising new technology and cutting-edge GREEN CREDENTIALS decanter sealed with the ‘Prestige’ cork design,” he said. stopper from Amorim’s Top Series® range. Corticeira Amorim has continued “The innovative and stylish packaging of to build on its strong environmental Distributed under Gordon & MacPhail’s Gordon & MacPhail’s 70-year-old whisky is a credentials through a series of initiatives ‘Generations’ brand, only 54 standard size perfect example of the type of partnerships outlined in its fourth Sustainability 700ml decanters with a recommended we will continue to develop with the world’s Report. UK retail price of £10,000 each and 162 most important spirits brands.” smaller decanters (200ml) priced at Corticeira Amorim’s Top Series® range Among the highlights in the 2009 £2500 have been released. Sustainability Report are a 16 per cent was commercially launched early this reduction in carbon dioxide emissions Founded in 1895, Gordon & MacPhail year to meet the needs of premium spirits over the previous year and the recycling is widely recognised as the custodian of producers. of 662 tonnes of natural cork. some of the oldest and rarest single malt Developed by Amorim’s Luxury Unit, the whiskies. Corticeira Amorim also extended its range takes advantage of natural cork’s support for sustainable cork forestry “We believe Mortlach 70 years old is performance and sustainability attributes practices by funding a free technical a malt without comparison,” said David to provide the spirits industry with quality advisory service for forest landowners. and Michael Urquhart, the joint managing closures that boast strong environmental directors of Gordon & MacPhail. credentials. In 2009 the company continued to promote the Forest Stewardship The whisky has aged since 15 October Presented in four product segments — Council (FSC) certification system. 1938 in an ex-bodega sherry hogshead Prestige, Elegance, Premium and Classic Amorim has led the way in this area cask made from Spanish oak. Value — the range provides a wide array of since the certification of the first cork closure solutions using a variety of elegant manufacturing facilities in 2007. materials and state-of-the-art production techniques. The Cork Stoppers and Cork > Premium packaging. ® Composites business units joined Top Series ‘Prestige’ is the pinnacle of Amorim Floor & Wall Coverings as the range with the capsules developed from members of WWF’s Iberian Forest Trade deluxe materials ranging from crystal to Network. This worldwide network of precious metals or exotic timbers. companies promotes the responsible Amorim responds to specific needs by consumption of forest products. developing innovative customised solutions “In a year that was characterised by a that allow customers to differentiate their global economic slowdown that placed packaging as evident in the unique closure financial constraints on many companies, solution presented to Gordon & MacPhail. Corticeira Amorim has strongly reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable development,” said Corticeira Amorim chairman and CEO António Amorim. “With the support of a wide range of stakeholders we have achieved most of the environmental objectives that we set for the year under review and recorded some significant victories for the environment.” !"#$%&&'$()*+,-#,*.$/0)*,0$123+.,4.5,6,+7$ > Deluxe materials 8#9)*+$,3$.:.,6.56#$.+$;;;<-)*+,-#,*..0)*,0<-)0= are used on Top *#6.+)*,)3%&&'$ Series® closures. RECORK ON A STRONG FOOTING ReCORK by Amorim, a US-based cork members in Washington state. Through partnerships such as these, recycling program, continues to build “When you consider there are 13 billion ReCORK has recycled more than six momentum with the announcement of a natural corks sold into the world market million natural wine corks since 2007 major partnership with a Canadian shoe each year, most of which find their way with a dramatic increase in volume over manufacturer, strategic agreements into already overcrowded landfills, it just the past six months. with leading US wine trade associations makes sense to find new uses for this, until Previously known as ReCORK America, and a re-branding program that is recently, under-appreciated resource,” said the program has been re-branded to raising its consumer profile. Elizabeth Martin-Calder, executive director raise awareness of the role cork forests ReCORK has entered into a of WWVWA. play as a sustainable natural resource partnership with SOLE to reclaim and Event-based partnerships are also and to increase the number of natural wine corks recycled. ‘upcycle’ a portion of the billions of a feature of the program, such as the natural cork wine and champagne decision by the Washington State Wine Natural cork wine closures are a truly closures opened each year by US and Commission to select ReCORK as its sustainable resource and one of the Canadian consumers. natural cork recycling partner for its Taste few forms of product packaging that is A leading footwear manufacturer Washington! wine and food event. ReCORK 100 per cent recyclable, renewable and that distributes its products throughout is now working with the commission on a biodegradable. North America, SOLE has been working recycling program for its 650 members. !"#"$%$&'%(')%*'+,*-%)'.#"$'%/$%)))01'23140315 with ReCORK for 12 months and the formal agreement will dramatically expand collection efforts. “ReCORK provided us with thousands of used corks and we did the R&D necessary to successfully come up with a cork blend in our footwear products that enhances the material properties of the footwear while extending the useful life of the cork for years to come,” said SOLE chief executive Mike Baker. ReCORK has also announced that the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance Board (WWVWA) has selected ReCORK > ReCORK’s partnership with SOLE will to collect and recycle used and surplus increase cork recycling volumes. natural cork closures from its 100-plus UK SUPERMARKETS BACK AMORIM’S FSC CORK Two leading supermarket chains in the friendly closures, announcing that its own- move about a third of its own-brand wines United Kingdom have committed to using brand wines packed at Kingsland Wines to FSC corks in 2010. Amorim’s environmentally friendly FSC will be sealed with FSC certified corks. Amorim stopper division CEO Victor corks in 2010. The Co-operative Group intends to Ribeiro applauded the commitment by Early this year Sainsbury’s announced it continue working with its supply base to Sainsbury’s and The Co-operative Group. would become the first retailer to make all “The UK wine trade makes a vital its corks Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) contribution to the maintenance of the certified. unique triple bottom-line balance between The move started with the supermarket’s environmental, social and economic issues Blanc de Noirs Champagne and will include associated with the cork forests of the all wines, spirits and beers sealed with Western Mediterranean,” he said. natural cork closures by the end of 2010. “Because 70 per cent of the value- It will make Sainsbury’s the biggest user added income created by natural cork of FSC certified corks in the world. comes from its wine and champagne Amorim is the sole supplier of natural stopper application, the kind of leadership cork closures to Sainsbury’s and the retailer demonstrated by Sainsbury’s goes a long is committed to ensuring all the cork it uses way to help support a more sustainable comes from the most sustainably managed trade. forests. “We are also delighted that The The Co-operative Group — which Co-operative Group has embraced FSC has more than 2500 food stores and certified closures and we look forward to > Leading UK supermarket chains have supermarkets across the UK — has also committed to FSC corks. working closely with them as they move committed to Amorim’s environmentally more of their wines to FSC corks.” DROP US A LINE For more information about cork and/or Amorim please drop a line to: The Editor, Bark to Bottle Fax: +61 3 9654 3785 Internet: www.corkfacts.com E-mail: [email protected] IN BRIEF AMORIM TAKES SUSTAINABILITY AWARD sustainable construction, shows innovation otherwise equal in all other areas,” Amorim has again been praised for in harmony with nature and has excellent said De Bortoli Wines quality manager its environmental practices, claiming an acoustic, thermal and anti-vibration Sharon Adams. ‘Outstanding Contribution to Sustainability insulation qualities. WHISTLER TREE YIELDS AGAIN Award’ at the inaugural Drinks Business Corticeira Amorim is a major sponsor of Green Awards in London. the Portugal Pavilion at Expo Shanghai 2010 The most famous cork tree in the world has once again yielded hundreds of Staged by leading UK industry publication, which runs from 1 May to 31 October. >1 kilograms of high-grade cork. The Drinks Business, the awards were SOUL MATE COLLECTION VISITS MoMA established to reward companies and Known as the Whistler Tree, the 227 year- individuals displaying leadership on Amorim Cork Composites and leading old oak is acknowledged as the world’s environmental issues and implementing Portuguese ceramic manufacturer oldest cork tree. It gets its name from the dynamic ethical practices. Matceramica have launched a collection songbirds that regularly perch on its limbs. of household consumer goods under the A panel of judges reviewed nominees in brand name Soul Mate. On average, cork oaks have an economic areas such as environmental performance, lifespan of 170 years and are in their prime The collection, which consists of four training, motivational initiatives, green when aged between 60 and 90 years. campaigns and ethical initiatives. product ranges, combines cork and faience — two raw materials with a strong The Whistler Tree continues to defy the Eight companies were short-listed for Portuguese tradition. The product ranges odds with the 2009 harvest producing a the Sustainability Award category that include ceramic dinnerware, breakfast massive 825 kilograms of cork. This was a recognised efforts to employ efficient and ware, kitchenware and decorative pieces. significant increase on the 650 kilograms effective sustainable practices. The Soul Mate collection has been produced in 2000 when the tree was last Amorim was acknowledged for the work launched on the world stage. It was stripped and is about 12 times the yield of undertaken in its production facilities and presented at MoMA (Museum of Modern an average cork tree. in cork forestry in order to produce the Art) Design Store locations in New York most sustainable natural cork products and early this year and exhibited at Tokyo’s 100% CORK CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED improve its overall carbon footprint. Interior Lifestyle Fair in June. >2 The overwhelming preference of The Drinks Business also acknowledged American wine drinkers for wines sealed Amorim’s commitment to the environment MOST IMPROVED SUPPLIER with natural cork closures is being in 2009 when it was the only closure supplier Amorim Australasia has been awarded reinforced through a new promotional named in a worldwide ‘Top 50’ ranking ‘Most Improved’ supplier status by leading campaign titled 100% Cork. of companies with strong environmental Australian winemaker De Bortoli in the The Portuguese Cork Association influence. company’s Supplier of the Year awards. (APCOR) and the US-based Cork Quality Council officially launched the campaign at WORLD EXPO A SHOWCASE FOR CORK Amorim finished in second place in an analysis of all of De Bortoli’s suppliers and the 2010 Sustainable Brands Conference in The stunning Portugal Pavilion at the was just 0.5 marks behind the leader with a California. Shanghai World Expo 2010 is a showcase for score of 30 out of 32. 100% Cork aims to encourage US wine natural cork. Amorim has supplied 5500m2 consumers to choose wine sealed with of cork for the pavilion, which boasts a bold On its supplier review score sheet De natural cork stoppers because of cork’s architectural design. Bortoli commented that Amorim had greatly improved its customer service over environmental, technical and societal Cork is displayed on the building’s facade, the previous judging period. benefits. It will also seek to influence as a prominent element of the aesthetic winemakers and retailers to choose natural design, as a flooring material and in several Although it was not taken into account, cork over alternative closures. 2 De Bortoli also acknowledged the technical solutions. The 3640m facade The 100% Cork campaign website effort behind Amorim securing Forest is covered with 28 thousand kilograms of (www.100percentcork.org) asks consumers ® Stewardship Council certification. insulation corkboard. Inside, Wicanders to pledge their support for natural cork, 2 cork flooring covers an area of 1100m . “It is these kinds of corporate social while an informative Facebook page has In keeping with the Expo theme of ‘Better responsibility actions that will split the already attracted thousands of fans (www. City, Better Life’, cork demonstrates difference between suppliers that are facebook.com/100PercentCork). >3

>01 >02 >03

> The Portugal Pavilion — a showcase for cork. > Contemporary design — products from the > The 100% Cork campaign has started in the US. Soul Mate collection.