CWave Beverages has recently launched Caribbean Wave Premium Island Cocktails in two pouched varieties: Goombay Punch Rum Cocktail and Cool Runnin’ Vodka Cocktail. Goombay Punch Rum Cocktail blends rum with peach, orange, pineapple and coconut flavors, while Cool Runnin’ Vodka Cocktail blends vodka with natural lemon and lime flavors. Each variety is packaged in ready-to-drink 1.75-liter Astrapouches that can be refrigerated or put on ice for a cold cocktail in 15 minutes, the company says. Each pouch makes 10 6-ounce cocktails and retails for approximately $17.99.

Cheers to AstraPouch from Food Logistics Magazine for being an Innovator in Alternatives to the Traditional Wine and Spirits Bottle!

While consumers took years to adjust to the Stelvin screw cap on wine bottles, the transition to alternative packaging seems to be going a little faster. Undoubtedly, the wider acceptance of more environmentally friendly packaging has something to do with it.

The AstraPouch was first developed and launched in South Africa in 2008, but the company is growing quickly in the U.S.

Not only is the pouch a superior way to maintain freshness, it’s great for shippers too. One truckload of empty AstraPouch packages is equal to 14 truckloads of empty glass bottles.

http://www.foodlogistics.com/article/10657357/top-10-logistics-innovators?page=3

Pernod Ricard USA has introduced a new flavor extension to its Malibu premixed cocktails line, Melon Margarita. The new product will retail for $19.99 and be sold in a 1.75-liter Astrapouch. The Malibu cocktails range, launched last June, also features Tropical Sea Breeze, Rum Punch, Caribbean Cosmo and Tropical Mojito variants. The Melon Margarita cocktail follows two recent extensions to the core Malibu rum brand, Malibu Red and Malibu Sunshine. After reversing a decline in 2010 with 1.9% growth, Malibu rose 5.6% in the U.S. last year to 1.7 million cases, according to Impact Databank. The brand does approximately half its global business in the U.S.

Astrapouch North America and Wright Labels, leaders in packaging and marketing solutions for the wine industry, announced the launch of the “Tag Your Bag” program at the Wineries Unlimited Trade Show, March 28 – 29, 2012, offering a low-cost packaging solution for small to mid size wineries. Additionally, Wright Labels will offer on site concierge design services.

Instead of the typical pre-printed bags, which carry a minimum order of 15,000 bags per variety, Wright has partnered with wine bag maker AstraPouch North America to offer small wineries a low-cost, “do-it-yourself” kit, complete with a label and an unbranded white pouch – equivalent to two standard 750ml bottles – with just a 160 bag order minimum.

“Over the last several years, we’ve seen a shift to alternative and innovative packaging of wines,” said Wright President and CEO Greg Wright. “Our new ‘Tag Your Bag’ program provides customers a budget-friendly branding opportunity that helps them keep costs down without compromising on the quality of the final product.”

As a part of its service offering at the show, the company will also offer a one-hour free consultation with an on-site designer, as well as staffers who will be available to assist clients with labels, logos, rack cards, brochures, banners or signage needs. Wright will operate the center in Booths #505 - 507 and Astrapouch will be in Booth #703, from March 28th through March 29th. The show will be open each day from 10am to 4pm.

As a low carbon alternative to the glass bottle, the AstraPouch is an eco-friendly, convienent and durable way to make your product stand out from the rest.  The AstraPouch is easy to carry and enjoy on the go!  It's unique design helps beverages cool faster while the nozzle allows for smarter dispensing and a longer shelf life.  To hear more about how the AstraPouch can transform your brand, stop by Booth #703 at Wineries Unlimited on March 28th & 29th in Richmond, VA.  You can also visit us on the web at www.astrapouch-na.com!

As a low carbon alternative to the glass bottle, the AstraPouch is an eco-friendly, convienent and durable way to make your product stand out from the rest.  The AstraPouch is easy to carry and enjoy on the go!  It's unique design helps beverages cool faster while the nozzle allows for smarter dispensing and a longer shelf life.  To hear more about how the AstraPouch can transform your brand, stop by Booth #91 at the Eastern Winery Expo on March 7th & 8th in Lancaster, PA or Booth #703 at Wineries Unlimited on March 28th & 29th in Richmond, VA.  You can also visit us on the web at www.astrapouch-na.com!

This year's Unified Wine and Grape Symposium was another huge success for Astrapouch and their eco-friendly wine pouch!  With a record number of attendees visiting our booth, it's no secret that the wine pouch is poised to revolutionize the industry.  To see what Astrapouch is all about, visit us at www.astrapouch-na.com.

DRINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.

AstraPouch North America is proud to introduce the latest advancement in wine and spirits packaging – the AstraPouch! This product is revolutionizing the industry.

Replacing heavy glass bottles and bulky bag-in-box packaging, the lightweight AstraPouch is a durable, convenient and eco-friendly way to bring wine and spirits to the consumer market.

Never before has there been a package so sleek, so marketable, so efficient or so profitable.

DRINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.

AstraPouch North America is proud to introduce the latest advancement in wine and spirits packaging – the AstraPouch! This product is revolutionizing the industry.

Replacing heavy glass bottles and bulky bag-in-box packaging, the lightweight AstraPouch is a durable, convenient and eco-friendly way to bring wine and spirits to the consumer market.

Never before has there been a package so sleek, so marketable, so efficient or so profitable.

2012 SFCWC Label Contest

By Michael Haran

The results are in for our 2nd annual 2012 SFCWC Label Contest. This year we included four Best-of-Class categories as well as a Sweepstakes winner.

This year’s judges included Elizabeth Slater of “In Short Marketing;” Dave Miller of “PackagingArts” a wine label and marketing materials printing company; Michael Traverso of Traverso’s Market; Jennifer Tincknell of Tincknell & Tincknell wine marketers; and Elliott Mackey publisher of Wine Appreciation Guild.

Sweepstakes
This year’s Sweepstakes winner is from Mutt Lynch winery in Healdsburg, Ca. The wine is a 2009 Sonoma County red wine (they call it 'Muttitage') and is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc. It retails for around $25.00. The label art is from a painting by artist Nancy Schutt and was the winner of the winery’s “Naughty Dog” 3rd Annual 2011 'dog art' wine label contest.

Classical
The Best-of-Class Classical label went to Ferrington Vineyards – Schoeneman – 2009 Gewurztraminer. The finalists included Black Coyote – 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon; Echelon Vineyards – 2010 Pinot Noir; Judson Winery – Walsh Ranch – 2010 Pinot Noir; Judson Winery – Walsh Ranch – 2010 Pinot Noir; and Katarina Wines – Field Vineyards – 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon.

Artistic
Mutt Lynch Winery’s 2009 Red Blend “Out of Reach” won not only BOC but also the Sweepstakes. Another Mutt Lynch label was a finalist in the Artistic Class that being 2009 Primitivo – MFB (man’s best friend). Harmony Wynelands - Pipe Dreams – Zinfandel; Oso Libre’s 2008 Bordeaux, Bordeaux Reserve; and Peltier Station – USB were the other Artistic Finalist.

Whimsical
The Whimsical class BOC was won by ecoVino Wines – Grape to Glass – 2010 Chardonnay. The finalist are J. Baldwin Wines – Half Acre – 2006 Zinfandel; Ripken Vineyards & Winery – 2008 Temparnillo; Tom Eddy Winery – 2010 Mooton Rouge; and Van Duzer Vineyards – 2009 Pinot Noir.

Series
Happy Camper won the Series BOC. The other entrants were Alexander Vineyards; Ciff Family Winery (The Climber); De’ve Winery; Westport Winery; and Woodbury Vineyards.

We would like to thank all of the wineries that entered this year’s label contest. Some marvelous labels were entered. We would also like to congratulate this year’s winners. Good job all the way around.
 

(Reuters Life!) - The quest for the perfect wine container has been going on since the Stone Age when our ancestors drank naturally fermented grapes from animal-skin pouches.

They are now back in vogue in the United States where at least three U.S. wineries are offering wines in high tech foil pouches that resemble children's fruit drinks -- only for adults.

Glenora Winery in New York and the Clif Family Winery and Farm in California's Napa Valley use the pouches for wines from their vineyards, while Indulge, a start-up based in Santa Barbara, California is selling its wines, made from Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir grapes sourced from growers in California, in the containers.

"We use it for our Riesling and Chardonnay. It's the same wine as you'll find in the bottles and it's really good quality," said Glenora's winemaker Steve DiFrancesco, adding the pouches flew off shelves when they appeared last summer.

The pouches, made in South Africa by AstraPouch, take half as long to chill as a bottle, weigh much less, and will keep the 1.5 liters, the equivalent of two regular-size bottles, of wine they contain fresh for a month after they've been open, DiFrancesco said.

Clif, which also produces the energy snack of the same name, put a karabiner, or metal loop, on the pouch and added it to its line of Climber wines, which include California Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, organic wines also available in bottles

"It's easy to pack in and pack out. It rolls into this tiny ball," said Linzi Gay, the winery's general manager. "It's the perfect way to take wine into the woods to go camping or hiking."

Indulge winery's owner Pierre LaBarge said its 2009 Pinot Noir and its 2009 Sauvignon Blanc are the first vintage it is selling in the pouches.

"I was looking to make a great value wine and I was looking for an environmentally friendly package," LaBarge explained. "This weights only 1.5 oz (44 ml) and it reduces the carbon footprint by 85 percent.

"I don't believe someone should have to pay just for convenience or to be environmental," said the 30-year-old winemaker. "These are world class wines in this package."

Wineries in Australia, Europe and South Africa have been using the pouches for several years, according to Dave Moynihan, president of AstraPouch North America.

Patrick McGovern, head of the Biomolecular Archaeology Laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, told National Geographic that the first wine-tasting may have occurred during the Paleolithic age when humans drank the juices of naturally fermented wild grapes from animal-skin pouches.

(Reporting by Leslie Gevirtz; editing by Patricia Reaney)

Read more: http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/21/wine-in-a-pouch/#ixzz1HMVpbbur

Glenora Trestle Creek Chardonnay in the new lightweight, environmentally-friendly, unbreakable package!

They released the first ever U.S. wine in the unbreakable, stay fresh AstraPouch package this summer. Due to its success, Glenora Wine Cellars has just released TRESTLE CREEK CHARDONNAY in the 1.5L AstraPouch! It is available online and in the Wine Shop at Glenora. Watch for it at your local wine store in the coming weeks.

1.5L is equivalent to 2 bottles of wine.  There are approximately 10 glasses per pouch.

The AstraPouch is a sleek, durable, and efficient pouch that is the new alternative to the heavier glass bottle and bulky bag-in-box standards.  Used to package wine and other non-carbonated beverages, the AstraPouch can chill the product quickly, won’t let air in while pouring and has a low carbon footprint. The AstraPouch features a convenient handle and allows wine to be free from the “no glass” rule.

New and unique wine packaging has been introduced into the United States. Will it take a while to catch on? Already the AstraPouch is being used in the UK, South Africa and Australia. The AstraPouch was developed by AstraPouch North America and is being used by Glenora Wine Cellars to package their Trestle Creek Riesling. Glenora is using the 1.5L pouch.

AstraPouch packaging offers a number of advantages for wineries and for consumers. These pouches are very light. If you have ever moved a case of empty glass wine bottles you’ll notice how heavy glass can be. This all adds up to an increased carbon footprint. By using AstraPouch packaging the carbon footprint should dramatically decrease.

The lighter weight of carrying wine is also great for the consumer who wants to carry the wine while camping or hiking.

The nozzle on the pouch allows wine to pour out but keeps oxygen from entering into the pouch and oxidizing the wine. According to the AstraPouch North America website, after opening the pouch, the wine will stay fresh for up to one month.

Kudos to Glenora Wine Cellars for beginning the use of a new environmentally friendly option to glass bottles.

Note: A review of Glenora Wine Cellars is available on the Wine Trail Traveler website at

http://winetrailtraveler.com/newyork/glenora.php.

Wine packaging continues to evolve. We've seen more and more wines in boxes and cartons but Glenora Wine Cellars in Dundee, New York is debuting a wine in the AstraPouch pouch. The Trestle Creek Riesling is available in 1.5 liter AstraPouches. Like the wines, the pouches are made in New York. The pouches provide similar advantages to the bag-in-box but without the box. A one-way spigot keeps oxygen out. The pouches have a modest transportation footprint and chill faster. The light weight also makes them a good option for picnics. The wine itself has apricot and peach aromas and pairs with chicken, fish or other light fare and can be served as an apertif.

The pouches contain around 10 glasses and cost $17.99.

Malibu® Caribbean Rum with coconut liqueur, recently announced the launch of Malibu Cocktails, a line of great-tasting premixed drinks packaged in environmentally friendly 1.75L AstraPouches.

Set to hit retail shelves beginning July 1, the line features three delicious blends that top the list of today’s most popular cocktails: Rum Punch, Caribbean Cosmo and Tropical Mojito.

Sheila Senhouse, Brand Manager Rums, Pernod Ricard USA, said consumer testing showed that the first-of-its-kind Malibu Cocktail pouch creates a high level of interest, communicates the product’s premium quality relative to other premixed brands and is ideal for outdoor social occasions [sic].

Made of soft plastic that allows for quicker chilling and keeps the product fresh once opened, the Malibu pouches also feature leak-proof dispenser nozzles that make pouring a snap and helps minimize waste. “It’s a natural extension of the Malibu brand and the Malibu philosophy of taking life less seriously,” Senhouse said.

Malibu Rum Punch Cocktail is made with Malibu Coconut and a blend of pineapple, banana, passion fruit and mango flavors; Malibu Caribbean Cosmo is a blend of Malibu Coconut, lime, orange and cranberry flavors; and Malibu Tropical Mojito blends Malibu Coconut with mango, mint and kaffir lime flavors. Senhouse added, “All three Malibu flavors are fun and refreshing and capitalize on the growing demand for great-tasting premixed contemporary cocktails.”

Glenora will be first to launch new packaging in U.S.

Glenora Wine Cellars will debut Trestle Creek Riesling in 1.5L AstraPouches on July 4.

Dundee, N.Y. -- The first winery founded on Seneca Lake also will be the first in the United States to adopt the environmentally friendly AstraPouch package, when Glenora Wine Cellars releases its new Trestle Creek Riesling in 1.5L pouches July 4.

The pouches, profiled in Wines & Vines’ May packaging issue, already have made a splash in Europe. Like Glenora’s wines, they are a New York product from AstraPouch North America in Penfield.

They provide the protective and eco-friendly advantages of bag-in-box -- but without the box. A 1.5L pouch measures about 7 inches wide by 10 inches tall, and a slender 2-inches thick when filled with the equivalent of two standard 750ml bottles. Their transportation footprint is light, too: 98% wine to 2% package by weight. They are, according to AstraPouch president Dave Moynahan, multi-layered plastic, with a one-way spigot to keep oxygen out.

Glenora president Gene Pierce, who pioneered the Seneca Lake region when he founded the winery in 1977, told Wines & Vines that Moynahan came to him late last year in search of an established winery with a good reputation that would be willing to try the AstraPouches in the U.S. market. Glenora, named 2009 Winery of the Year by Tasters Guild International, fit the bill.

Pierce invested in a special machine that holds the pouches, removes the spigot, fills the containers and replaces the spigots. He is now in the process of bagging the equivalent of 4,000 cases of Riesling at the winery, which produces a total of 55,000 cases annually. “We’re taking it slow and easy,” he said, packaging the equivalent of about 500 cases per day on the new equipment. “It’s challenging not to say ‘bottling,’” he admitted.

The first release will be distributed in New York state through Empire Merchants North, and the pouches also will be available at the tasting room, a nice bonus for potential picnickers in the scenic Finger Lakes. The pouches, said Glenora’s administrative manager, Kerry Keller, “chill faster and stay fresh.” Their light weight, compact size and durability make them inviting options for backpackers and boaters.

Pierce hopes the package will find enough consumer (and retailer) acceptance for him to add a second packaging machine. “Our next product will be a Chardonnay,” he said. “We have limited distribution in two or three other states, and we’re looking for interest. If it turns out as we hope, we’ll be looking for broader distribution.”

As with screwcaps, bag-in-box, TetraPak and other innovations, with success comes imitation. “I welcome competition,” Pierce said, recalling the wine industry since Glenora’s solitary early days on Seneca Lake, which is now home to more than 100 wineries. “We like competition. It raises the bar for everyone.”

The AstraPouch, he said, “is a great way for us to come out with a new package, and give the Finger Lakes and Glenora some successful notoriety.”