Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/383377
34 W i n e s & V i n e s O C T O b e r 2 0 1 4 Bottle shape is a key, he said. "You will have better options for shoulder printing with Burgundy or hock glass molds. But again, it depends on the design and how you can "trick" the design as it travels vertically to appear as if it is one unbreakable design, when in fact you need to use multiple flat screens to print certain sections of the bottle as you travel toward the neck. We have been asked to print on necks, or print words as a 'collar' around the shoulder or lower neck area on sparkling wine bottles, but these requests number just a few." Full-body tattoo vs. traditional treatments Doubleback Winery in Walla Walla, Wash., produces just 2,000 cases per year, with an average retail price of $89 per bottle. This month, it will release its Bledsoe Family Wine at $40 for a 1-liter bottle. As befits the wine's price and pedigree, the package shows its class. Fully utilizing the screen- printing technology at Monvera, Doubleback sourced a round- cornered square bottle from Bruni Glass. Guildhouse Group design firm helped to create a four-sided screenprint pattern that incorpo- rates a quotation and all the gov- ernment-required details. Perhaps the most striking packaging element, though, is the resealable flip-top closure, also sourced from Bruni. "We wanted to think out- side the box on packaging for our Bledsoe Family Wine," said Doubleback manager emily Beamer. "We wanted to use the ceramic flip-top closure and flint bottle to create a casual feel that prompted consumers to open the wine and enjoy it with family and friends. "The bottle can also be re-used by filling it with water and using it in the place of a water pitcher on a table. This use turns the bottle into a marketing and conversation piece," Beamer said. "There is not a cork under the ceramic stopper as the ceramic stopper creates the seal that is needed." Bledsoe Family Wine will be offered 100% direct-to-consumer after its octo- ber release. the unstoppable Zork Scholle's Zork Closure has been around since 2003 and adopted by more than 100 bonded North American wineries as well as many home winemakers—yet it's still a bit of a novelty for consumers. Combining a tear-off-strip with an easily reinserted plastic stopper, it is decidedly not mainstream. Its colorful design is unmistakable, and it does not replicate a cork/capsule or a screwcap. For the corkscrew-challenged, or those whose fingers bear the scars of metal cap- sules, it's truly a user-friendly option. Two Northern California wineries, both headed by scions of the Sebastiani family, employ the Zork Closure on their popular brands; an oregon producer bottles its entire 4,000-case production with the closure. Find an authorized distributor today at www.ZORKclosures.com/contact A distinctive closure for distinctive wines. the ceramic flip-top closure on Bledsoe Family Cellars' red wine makes it a good choice for reuse. C O V E R S T O R Y