Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/101495
PACKAGING ���The main difference is that on tin/polylam sparkling capsules, decorations must be situated avoiding the different folds that are made when spinning,��� said Steve Galvan, general manager of Napa���s Ramondin. ���The main difference is the application. Wine capsules spin and sparkling capsules fold when spinning on the bottle.��� Standard sparkling wine bottles with standard (34/35) corks use standard 122mm capsules with a 4��30��� taper. ���Decorations must be positioned with regard to the label, with a visible spotting mark on the side,��� Galvan explained. Ramondin can provide hot stamping on the side or rotogravure decoration for polylam capsules, silk-screened or embossed for tin, plus varied textures, embossing and tear-tabs as required. Small producers may be better off to keep it simple, though ���it is almost impossible to do a correct hand application of tin or poly sparkling capsules, except if the capsule has no side decoration. For these products, the side decoration must be oriented and positioned with regard to the label,��� Galvan cautioned. Foils can also be lighter weight aluminum, said Papillon Erreca, general manager of Brick Packaging in Traverse City, Mich., which ships to 13 states. Among many other packaging products, Brick also offers polylam capsules and custom sizes, special shapes, fluting, eyespots, hot foil stamping and embossing as well as rotogravure printing with up to six colors. ���Styles and trends continue to evolve based on the imagination of the winery,��� he said. ���We continue to see very creative artwork and design requests. The foils can be applied by hand or machine; application is determined by the size of the production.��� From Rivercap, Bell commented, ���There has certainly been an uptick in new sparkling wines such as sparkling Moscato in all its different color variations in addition to fruit-flavored sparkling Moscatos. This trend has taken off in the past couple of years and looks set to increase for the foreseeable future. The packaging for these new products seems to be following the traditional lines, however (i.e., polylam foils and wire hoods.) ���One trend is the increased use of medallions on the foils, which adds to the quality of the package while eliminating the need for a paper neck label. At Sparflex (a division of Rivercap parent Cork Supply USA), we have developed a new line of sparkling foils called ���Sparlux��� with a formed aluminum top disk. This gives a smooth, rounded look to the top of the capsule,��� which can be embossed, printed and/or hot-stamped. Although Sparflex also produces traditional paper-top foils, ���Sparlux give a higher quality feel, and are used extensively by the Champagne producers of France,��� Bell said. Labels still a sticky issue Label application and adherence to cold, wet bottles continues to be a headache for some. Most pressure-sensitive (PS) labels, now standard in the industry, present difficulties under these conditions. Rack & Riddle���s Garaventa added, ���Wet glue labels have to fit our labeler and magazines exactly.��� ���A major production challenge the sparkling wine segment has historically been the labeling of cold, wet bottles,��� said G3���s Boonma. ���Until recently, wineries have been faced with primarily a singular alternative, cut-and-stack cold-glue labels. Not only is this method of application difficult to manage, but any changes in the die-line of the label to improve marketing strategy or brand identity require substantial lead times and cost.��� G3, she said, is developing this type of label to meet market demand. SEE US AT UNIFIED, BOOTH #1419 Win es & Vin es JA N UA RY 20 13 77