The market for organic, sustainable and biodynamic wines will continue to grow, according to the recent IWSR forecast. This is especially true in the U.S., where the number of wine bottles sold is predicated to increase 14 percent by 2022. With this market growth, vintners nationwide are looking to give their bottles the same provenance and sustainability as their wines by opting for glass manufactured in North America.
“As a third-generation Californian and second-generation vintner of wines, when it comes to choices for our packaging, we stay close to home. From our first vintage in 1982, we’ve found that working with a domestic glass supplier was the best way to assure quality and on-time delivery,” said Suzanne Groth, president and CEO of Groth Vineyards & Winery. “From ordering to bottling, we rely on an extremely tight turnaround and delivery. Since 2000 we have partnered with Gallo Glass to ensure that our wines, from grape to glass, are treated gently and stored perfectly. Gallo’s leadership in sourcing 100 percent of its glass materials from California reassures me that we share values as well as geography. You really can’t get that level of quality and service in a supply partner anywhere else.”
To meet this demand from U.S. winemakers like Susanne Groth and other newcomers in the bourgeoning organic market, Gallo Glass is investing in its facilities to service the California wine industry, which continues to grow steadily and currently accounts for roughly 81 percent of the country’s wine. [1]
Ardagh Group (ardaghgroup.com) is also seeing an increase in domestic wine bottle orders, especially from those seeking the reliability and quick turnarounds that North American manufacturers provide. As a result, it has proactively addressed this need by adjusting its U.S. manufacturing capabilities and continuing to deliver innovations in packaging and design. Ardagh Group offers a wide-range of wine bottles, including options like its ECO Series collection, which achieves the same standards of technical and aesthetic quality as traditional bottles, while resulting in transportation savings for wineries.
Finally, O-I (o-i.com) a leading U.S. glass manufacturer, notes that strong quality, service and fast access to innovation are key differentiators for wine brands that cannot be easily or cost-effectively replicated by off-shore suppliers. U.S. wineries can create a superior package and benefit from the responsiveness and the ability to build close relationships with nearby manufacturers. Adding a personal touch that can’t be achieved by overseas producers, O-I representatives regularly travel to fill locations to engage with its customers.
1. https://www.wineinstitute.org/resources/statistics/article83
