DSN magazine by Vinolok v.03

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Editorial Broadening Horizons What’s Up? Cantina Tramin Weissbrand The Basics Design Options

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Bruichladdich 12 Y.O. BOTTLE comes presented with the

INNOVATIVE Vinolok glass closure, preventing the cork taint from affecting its flavour as it could with a bottle of wine. Not only that, they’re also just generally pretty cool looking. Win-win. www.masterofmalt.com

producer Master of Malt, United Kingdom product Bruichladdich Single Malt Whisky closure clear low-top with one colour printing

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Ask the experts page 07 Winery profile: Cantina Tramin page 12 What the f*ck is weissbrand? page 14 Vinolok Design options page 22

editorial Innovation.

Quality. Inspiration.

Experience. Stories.

Recommendation.

People. All of that is Vinolok. We are trying to push our limits further and further and the new edition of our DSN magazine proves it.

It is different; not only in format, but also in content. Everyone will find something here: we offer numerous accounts of winemakers’ and spirits producers' experiences; an interview with Šárka

Dušková, the long-time ambassador of Vinolok; you will learn how the bottle is designed; and, last but not least, what the current trends are.

I have only recently come to work for Vinolok, but I have been working for the Preciosa Group

for sixteen years. I like the way Preciosa manages to combine tradition with an innovative approach, and admire the audacity to come up with extraordinary projects such as the Vinolok concept, which started several years ago. I have become aware of the remarkable position of Vinolok on the market and it is a great honour for me to be part of the ambitious and fast-growing Vinolok family. The unique technological properties of Vinolok have been verified by a number of renowned beverage producers and that is a huge commitment for us. I am happy that so many people have decided to go against the stream with us—people who care about what they do and how they do it, people who are not afraid of change, but at the same time strive to make sure that every change is for the good and helps them achieve their goals.

Speaking of the Vinolok family—we have recently welcomed a new addition to the collection of

Design Options: Vinolok Woody. This is a unique closure made by combining two natural materials – glass and wood. Both of these materials are highly aesthetic, but at the same time retain their utility properties. The creation of high quality wines and liquors has always been connected to wood; storing these precious beverages has always been connected to glass. Vinolok Woody combines the best qualities of the two materials and evokes tradition and connection to nature, as well as innovative approach and unique properties of the Vinolok closure.

Vinolok can boast of many satisfied customers, but it remains flexible and can react to specific

demands of every individual project. The Design Options of our closure are as wide and rich as the imagination of anyone who uses it. Every brand is unique and has its particularities, and wishes to reflect them in their packaging. The packaging must be easy to identify and attractive for their customers. It is therefore our goal to help perfect the whole design in such a way that it reflects the singularity of the people who are responsible for it and help them march to a different beat.

Our vision for the future is to be a reliable partner for our customers, to help them achieve their

goals without having to compromise, and to always bring something new. Our plans are ambitious and numerous, and I will tell you all about them when the time comes. I can only give you a hint now—we are exploring new natural materials, and I hope this will be a story we will write together.

For now, let me wish you inspirational reading.

P.S. Fortune favours the brave.

Aleš Urbánek | managing director

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Šárka Dušková, our Vinolok Ambassador, is studying at the Institute of Masters of Wine. She is the founder of the Prague Wine Academy, organises the international wine competition the Prague Wine Trophy, and yearly festival The Prague Wine Week.

orizons Šárka Dušková talked to Kateřina Slezáková, Vinolok marketing manager.

How did you get into the wine business?

In 1992, my husband Jindřich Dušek established a graphic design studio and started designing wine labels. That got me interested in wine as well. In 2002, we started publishing the Víno Revue magazine and in 2005 I became the editor-in-chief. Two years later we founded The Prague Wine Trophy, an international wine competition. We use a unique method to judge wines—according to variety and by comparative tasting. We tend to have tasting flights of twenty wines. We carry out the first tasting, write down notes and assessments. Then we taste the wine again to see how it develops in the glass. Some wines appear more open; others, relying on primary aromas, tend to fall behind. We write a second assessment. During the third and final tasting the chair of the commission moderates a debate intended to attend to those wines that got the most varied evaluations from the members of the commission, to try to account for the differences and find a consensus. This method is most fair to the wines, and Prague Wine Trophy has made a good name for itself in the ten years of its existence. General public can then taste the best wines at the Prague Wine Week festival.

Your professional life has been linked to wine education …

In 2009, as our next project, we established the Prague Wine Academy. The following year Dr. Josef Schuller MW, chairman of the Institute of Masters of Wine and director of Weinakademie Österreich (the biggest European partner of the British institution Wine & Spirit Education Trust) offered to partner with us. So we became a partner of Weinakademie Österreich for the Czech Republic. We started offering basic courses in Czech and follow-up Advanced Course Wines and Spirits International in English. This course is the requisite qualification for the WSET Diploma in Wines and Spirits. Around eighty students have completed the Advanced Course in Prague, twenty of them continue studying the Diploma and ten have already graduated it.

I know you are not only the organizer of these wine courses, but you are also a student yourself.

I graduated from all these courses, including the WSET Diploma in Wines and Spirits. I hold the title of Weinakademiker from the Weinakademie Österreich, and in 2013, I started studying at the Institute of Masters of Wine.

Is the study very hard?

Yes, this is the highest wine business-oriented education one can get. The Institute was founded in London in 1955 and at first, only British wine merchants could study there. In the 1980s, it opened its gates to non-British wine enthusiasts from outside the wine trade (winemakers, journalists, consultants, academics) as well. So far, 341 applicants from 25 countries have earned the title Master of Wine. The study is based on self-study, you don’t get any textbooks, you need to find all the information yourself. There are four seminars during the course of the academic year, some take one day and some take five, but they only give you hints and guidelines on how to study.

Every student has a mentor, a Master of Wine who helps him and gives him advice. The final exam takes four days. The practical test consists of a blind tasting of 36 wines and responding to numerous questions. Even if you guess the wines correctly, it’s not enough. You need to justify your decision, say what it is that makes you think that this particular wine is such and such variety, region, vintage, that it was made in such and such way. You need to compare the quality and potential of several wines.

You need to be a detective and reason like a lawyer. In the theoretical test, you write essays on given topics from five areas: Viticulture, Vinification, Handling of Wine, Wine Business and Contemporary Issues. Knowing the facts isn’t enough here, you need to prove that you have your own outlook on the issue, and support your claims with concrete global examples.

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What do you get from the study?

Apart from having my horizons broadened and getting extensive and deep knowledge about wine, I also gained many new contacts—my classmates are winemakers, wine traders, journalists from all over the world, and we share our passion for wine. When I need any kind of information or contacts from any part of the world, I just write an email or pick up the phone and call one of my classmates.

When was the first time you encountered the glass closure?

In 2005, the Nové Vinařství winery entered the market with a clear objective— to become the most progressive player on the market. They were the first Czech winery to start using glass closures as an integral part of the packaging (bottles, labels, closures, and cartons). The packaging was designed by my husband, along with Tono Stano and Marek Špalek, director of the Nové Vinařství winery. They won the “Dobrý design” (“Good Design”) award, as well as the “Cena za manažerský počin roku v oblasti designu” (“Award for Managerial Feat in Design”), awarded by Design Centrum Czech Republic and the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade. I was right there at the beginning, when glass closures started to be used in the Czech Republic, shortly after Vinolok was introduced in 2004. And since then I have been saying that the glass closure is the perfect closure. I have always been interested in design, I grew up in a designer family.

A little later I started travelling because of wine, often to Austria, where many winemakers use glass closures, and I asked them about their experience. As I started tasting more and more wines closed with Vinolok, I became convinced that this really is the best closure, even for aging wines.

Tell us about your Vinolok Ambassador role.

When I got the offer, I did not hesitate. Vinolok has a great team of enthusiastic, innovative young people who keep coming up with new ideas on how to make the product even better, how to move forward. It is a great joy to work with them and be a part of the team. I have always said that the properties of the glass closure are exceptional and I think I am able to explain to winemakers why this is the perfect closure for them. I have tasted tens of thousands of wines, most of them wines closed with the glass closure. I take notes on every tasting. When I talk to a winemaker who is considering switching to glass closures, I can recommend examples of wines similar to those they want to make, so that they can verify the properties of Vinolok. I observe wines in time, I systematically taste new vintages every year, I check the development of the old vintages, check when they reach their peak. For me, it is very interesting when Vinolok customers bottle the same wine with different closures. I like to compare the development of those wines and I must say, Vinolok is almost always the best closure, which only confirms its great oenological properties. A wine closed with a cork closure can lose its fruitiness faster than under Vinolok. A screw cap tends to close the wine too tightly and lets in less oxygen than the glass closure, which creates undesirable reduced notes in the wine. Vinolok offers the advantage of preserving the wine’s freshness and fruity aromas longer, and at the same time allows for developing desirable secondary aromas and complexity.

Can you give us an example of a concrete wine?

Recently I went to the ProWein fair and the London Wine Fair to conduct vertical tastings of Henschke Barossa Shiraz (under Vinolok, potential for aging +25 years). Time and again I am fascinated by the unique combination of developed matured chocolate, leathery, meaty notes together with the preservation of blueberry, blackberry and plum aromas, which give the wines an extraordinary balance. Together with Franz Josef Loacker, co-owner of Loacker winery, we did a vertical tasting of biodynamic Sangiovese from Montalcino. The oldest vintage, 2001 was still unbelievably young and 2004 showed freshness, fruitiness and nice acidity, combined with beautiful matured notes. These wines with unique depth and long finish are great examples of big red wines, closed by glass closure. They are a proof that Vinolok is not only suitable for young and fresh wines intended for immediate use, which is a common misconception, but that Vinolok’s oenological properties benefit big red wines intended for long aging as well.

What other advantages does Vinolok offer?

One of the major advantages is the strictly defined and very small extent of OTR (Oxygen Transmission Rate).

A winemaker knows exactly how much oxygen will get under the closure and can prepare the wine accordingly in terms of amounts of sulphur. We know from experience that Vinolok can reduce the amount of sulphur in wine by half. As for natural cork, the differences in permeability of each individual closure are huge, you never know how each bottle will develop. It may develop perfectly, but it may not. The risk that it will not develop in a desired way is too big – winemakers say that after five years, three out of ten bottles closed with natural cork will have developed differently than was desired and one will have a faulty closure. Forty percent of their work, grapes, money go to waste. When you take ten bottles closed with Vinolok, after five years all ten will be identical! The glass closure is a beautifully designed, noble product – and in some countries it is the only acceptable alternative to natural cork for premium wines.

How do you combine your role as Vinolok Ambassador with studying to become Master of Wine?

I want to write a Research Paper about Vinolok. A Research Paper is the last step in the Master of Wine study and as far as I know, nobody has picked this topic yet. And who better to do it than a student from the country where this unique closure is made?

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It is not a coincidence that Vinolok is often chosen by organic or biodynamic producers worldwide. Glass—a harmless, clean, environmentally friendly, recyclable material—fits very well with their philosophy, but also with today’s ecological demands. Oenological properties of the Vinolok glass closure are being tested by Australian Wine Research Institute (awri), which is verifying Vinolok otr (Oxygen transmission rate) performance.

experts

ask the

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

Schloss Vollrads

Gérard Bertrand

Weingut Tement

I have been impressed by Vinolok

We tested various closure types and

We wanted to find a solution that

since 2004. I liked the idea to

only Vinolok enabled us to complete

guarantees the quality of our wines

„lock“= secure the wine by a closure

the bottle packaging as we anticipat-

and to resolve problems that occur

made from glass, which is an ideal

ed. The design of a closure should

when using natural cork. Vinolok

material for wine keeping. I thought

respect the appearance of our wine

makes sure that the wine is left to its

it was a great idea to use it not only

bottles.

natural process of aging and elimi-

for the bottle, but also for the state

Gérard Bertrand

nates any external influences. This

of the art closure. We have bottled five different wines of 2003 vintage

Owner of Gérard Bertrand, France

with different types of closures

is the big advantage of using Vinolok which we have used since 2004.

Manfred Tement

and have organized a comparative

Weingut Tement, Austria

tasting. And customers preferred the Vinolok closure! We use glass closure for all our wines as I am convinced that the idea of a new, modern alternative closure can work only when wine producer uses it for his top, most expensive wines.

Rowald Hepp Managing Director of Schloss Vollrads, Rheingau, Germany

_________________________________________ Azienda Agricola Brezza Thanks to Vinolok, the disaster of unpleasant problems created by

_________________________________________

the cork, has finally been eliminat-

La Freixeneda

ed. This extremely practical glass

Vinolok closure helps to keep the

closure substantially simplifies

character of the wine in the bottle

the serving of the wine, since the

and to ensure that each bottle of this

“uncorking” no longer requires

premium wine tastes identically.

a corkscrew but can be done just

Josep Buján Fernández

with the hands.

Enzo Brezza Azienda Agricola Brezza, Italy

The winery’s oenologist at Freixeneda, Spain

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Easy to open and close. With Vinolok, it takes just a click to open a bottle.

Another click, and the bottle is sealed back and completely leakproof again.

Easy to open and easy to close. Say goodbye to a corkscrew.

why vinolok?

Why winemakers prefer Vinolok

No impact on aroma or flavour

Slower further development of wine inside the bottle

Maintain stability after bottling

Don’t let cork ruin the aroma and

Wines sealed with the Vinolok closure

Use Vinolok to deliver stable envi-

taste of your wine. Glass has been

develop more slowly thanks to low

ronment in the bottle and to elim-

proven to be the best material for

OTR. So even big red wines keep their

inate the difference in aroma and

storing wine over the centuries.

youthful freshness and fruitiness.

taste in each bottle thanks to total stability of the Vinolok closure.

Why spirits producers prefer Vinolok

Amazing customisation and design options

Open and close the bottle over and over again

Keep the taste and aroma intact

Show the individuality of your brand

We all know that cork closures

Beverages closed with Vinolok do

with custom colours, inserted jew-

break. It’s in their nature. But with

not suffer from drawbacks which

ellery stones or metal objects. Have

Vinolok, you can open and close the

occur with the cork closures. The

the closure top cut into a diamond

bottle as many times as you need,

taste, aroma and colour remain the

shape or made from wood.

even after many years.

same and uninfluenced by cork.

Stop cork killing your work of art Don’t let the cork ruin the aroma and taste of your wine.

Use Vinolok to eliminate the problems of cork taint (TCA). After all, glass has been proven to be the best material for keeping beverages safe over the centuries. To find out more, visit www.vinolok.cz

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Chicago Distilling Company, USA Handmade from illinois grains and distilled in small batches. Decades before the Great Fire burned or buildings scraped the sky, Chicago’s distilling tradition was born.

During the late 1800’s their predecessors transformed the bounty of nearby farms into the whiskey that fueled a city on the make.

Chicago Distilling Company likes to think of themselves as an extension of that tradition.

To make their craft spirits, Chicago Distilling Company starts with organic grains sourced in Illinois. Using family recipes and techniques,they distill in small batches to ensure the best flavors and highest quality possible,

what every time. Or if you’d prefer, pick up a bottle and taste the difference for yourself.

Juniper Jack, Germany Juniper Jack does not try to be another playful gin. It‘s just the old school London Dry. Open and complex in flavor. Intensive in aroma. „It’s a juniper-bomb that unfolds after minutes in the mouth with explosive force“ says Siegbert Hennig, the master distiller at Juniper Jack.

Don Galo, Mexico Don Galo Mezcal is a symbol of tradition and innovation, conceived in the mind of the master mezcalero Galindo Morales, known by everyone in the village as Don Galo. The ritual of preparation to create this mezcal is as unique as the product itself; maestros mezcaleros take care of every detail, from the cultivation and care of the agaves, always respecting the land from which they come, to the packaging of each bottle.

Chateau Mangot, France Passionate about viticulture, Chateau Mangot combines technology and science in their quest for natural balance in each plot in order to capture the unique qualities of the land. Only high-quality grapes grown on healthy vines planted in ideal soil produce fine wine. The vinification process of Chateau Mangot consists of minimal contact or intervention in order to capture the essence of the terroir.

Culmina, USA An appreciation for craft and an immense love of art, beauty, and design underscores every detail at Culmina. Bleeding off a portion of juice from the Hypothesis must, Culmina’s Saignée is a bright and characterful rosé from select Bordeaux varietal micro blocks on the Triggs’ family estate.

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Casaltrinita Cantina Cooperativa, Italy Grappa nerAnima by Casaltrinità Cantina Cooperativa is produced from Nero di Troia grapes pomace in the region of Tavoliere delle Puglie in southern Italy. The aroma is intense with the tones of vanilla, honey and roses. The taste is strong, well-balanced and smooth.

Vinolok is proud to help the brand owners who are seeking to innovate with increasing speed and trying to keep up with the ever-changing demands of their customers. We aim to support them as current innovative technologies allow packaging design to be much more creative than ever. Using the Vinolok closure lets the products stand out and remain competitive on the market. It also turns every bottle into something exclusive and unique.

t’s up Doubleback, USA For former NFL quarterback Drew Bledsoe, owning a winery has been a longtime aspiration that would allow him to combine his passion for fine wine and the love of the Walla Walla Valley. “I am and will continue to be intrigued by many grape varietals and wine styles, and as such have created the Signature Series.“ says Drew.

Santa Sarah, Bulgary Santa Sarah‘s team of four wine enthusiasts owns three caravans as well as some high-tech equipment for their garage wine-making. Their No Saints Rose reflects their open-minded yet careful attitude towards winemaking. The wine blends Cabernet sauvignon, Pinot noir and Mavrud in an elegant bottle with a glass closure that reminds of a beautiful Venetian decorative brooch or of a stained glass window of a cathedral. There are 24 different colour combinations of the sealing ring and the closure.

3d labels We bring you an innovation in the field of printed closures.

Don’t make a compromise and use as many colours as you like with the 3D labels. 3D plastic labels are an effective way to enhance simple Vinolok closure. 3D labels covered with polyurethane resin offer almost endless possibilities of customisation from printing texts and logos to type designation or pictograms. The labels resist fading and mechanical damage thanks to UV filter and can be produced in various shapes and sizes.

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new home of the great gewĂźrztraminer Winery Profile: Cantina Tramin, Italy

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Winemaker profile: Wilhelm (Willi) Stürz was born in the village of Tramin and he focuses his expertise on understanding nature in the vineyards and individual sites, on capturing the primary aromas and the character imparted by the terroir in the finished wines. He has been technical manager of the Tramin Cellars since 1995 and the guide Vini d’Italia — Gambero Rosso bestowed on him the title of the winemaker of the year in 2004. A native of Termeno, he is deeply tied to its culture and people, it is something that reflects in his work. A professional of uncommon depth and focus, Willi cultivates a balance of traditional winemaking with the use of modern technology and deep expertise, which has resulted in great success for Tramin.

We work with passion and dedication to reveal the enchanting aromas that lift flavour, and open the heart to an emotional experience.

Located in the heart of Alto Adige in the town of Termeno on the south side of the Alpes, Tramin comprises of one of the oldest networks of farmers forming a winery.

Rich in tradition, Tramin’s wines are authentic expressions of a unique terroir, supported by a common philosophy of hard work, dedication, confidence and creativity among all participating members. Tramin operates on a human scale with a farmer-to-land ratio similar to that of a small estate, allowing for delicate hand-harvesting.

Cantina Tramin embodies the typical features of their land: the charm of nature and its ability to engage the senses, a creative and precise approach to consistent, quality production, and the ability to create a system based on cooperation. Among the oldest and most traditional wineries in Südtirol—Alto Adige, Cantina Tramin is based in Termeno on the Strada del Vino.

The winery produces an average of 1.8 million bottles per year; approximately 75% of production is for the Italian market, and the remaining 25% is for export, with an annual turnover of 10 million euros. Their wines have been awarded the prestigious Tre Bicchieri twenty times, becoming a 2star winery (less than 30 in Italy), and Cantina Tramin is consistently cited by international food and wine guides as one of Italy’s top quality wineries.

Cantina Tramin operates along the entire value chain: production, vinification and distribution are handled internally by a professional, passionate staff. Nussbaumer Gewurztraminer Tramin is one of the best white wines of Italy, while Stoan, Unterebner Pinot Grigio and Urban Lagrein represent the heart and soul of Südtirol— Alto Adige. These are the labels that best describe the style of the winery and the winemaker, Willi Stürz, was named the winemaker of the year in 2004.

w w w. c a n t i n a t r a m i n . i t

Today they cultivate approximately 15 hectares of vineyards according to organic and biodynamic principles, in which the grapes are nurtured by the wisdom of mother earth—a slower and more labour-intensive process for their growers. Inspired by this limited experiment and the firm commitment it required, Cantina Tramin made the decision in 2007 to bottle their top labels from vineyards cultivated without the use of herbicides, where the balance and rhythm of nature is respected rather than suppressed. Wine made in this manner is nurturing and wholesome, and may also show greater typicality and a clear expression of terroir.

Vinolok story within the winery Cantina Tramin: The company started using the glass closure in 2007.

During these times they had been searching for an alternative closure system to cork. They strongly felt that the screw cap wasn’t acceptable in their most important market, Italy, so they gave Vinolok a try. Their customers accepted Vinolok immediately and nowadays they are very happy with it and not only for its elegant appearance.

In 2007 they started with one wine, Pinot Noir. In 2010 they added the brand MORIZ Pinot Bianco, in 2015 they made new Sauvignon called PEPI which is closed with Vinolok. And starting from the year 2016, new SELIDA Gewüztraminer is also topped with Vinolok.

For Cantina Tramin, the main strengths of Vinolok are no cork problems, same wine quality in every bottle, elegant and high-grade appearance, and easy opening and closing of the bottle. These are the words of their winemaker, Willi Stürz.

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what the f*ck

is weissbra

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Weissbrand® is a crystal clear craft spirit distilled from German high-quality wine that gets refined with natural ingredients (e.g. fruits, herbs, spices).

Liquor inspires. A good brandy even more. Therefore people in the company dedicated their lives to their ambition. They create individual pieces with great love for the detail. High-class unique products that stand out from the bulk and raise modern delight to a whole new level. Weissbrand creates their products by hand and with love in Germany.

The Distillery: Out of the city stress!

Get on the truck!

In 2014 the company started running the micro distillery „Weissbrand Distilling Co.“ and launched their very first product THE WOLF Weissbrand®. THE WOLF was the first Weissbrand® ever and the company had the intention to convince their demanding customers not just with a great product.

“We had the vision to create a new class of spirits based on finest German wine - combined with a unique and timeless visual appearance. The bottle design should be pure and reduced to the essential but also have a connection to exclusive wine labels as well. So we decided for a very minimalistic appearance with the Vinolok glass closure as a final touch.” says Lupo Porschen, MD & Co-Founder of Weissbrand.

This decision was probably a very formative reason for their fast success: They got featured in many design and lifestyle magazine and became part of many concept stores and international fairs. Thinking about their second product „BIRDS Weissbrand®“, they had no intention to give it a conventional stopper. “For us especially the timeless and differentiating design is pioneering.

Combined with the reliable customer support, Vinolok is an awesome partner and supplier for our company,” continues Lupo.

Wolf, not too much, just enough for the moment

rand? w w w.w e i s s b r a n d . d e

Preciousness in a bottle. Wine in wolf’s clothing?

Wonder-grappa? Well, it’s all a matter of well trained tastebuds. One thing is for sure though: “Don’t call it just Brandy!” THE WOLF Weissbrand® is a liquor made with top-notch palatine sweet wine and is considered the pioneer of traditional noble-distillates as well as cordials.

Birds, sorry, not another gin!

A Gin without juniper? A noble Jägermeister for hipsters? A non-stored brandy? No, not even close! BIRDS is a “Weissbrand®”— a German craft spirit distilled from finest Riesling wine and refined with 12 exotic ingredients from all five continents.

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the s of A

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story A􀌴􀏐􀀁􀊤􀎝ic􀀁 About 15,000 years ago the glaciers covering the mountains of northern Bohemia started to thaw. The thawing water seeped through geologically favourable places into the ground and started to collect in the depths of the earth, where its purity has been preserved to this day.

Such precious gift from the Earth is treated with the utmost care throughout the whole process. From the extraction of the water to carefully prepared packaging, all is done in order to not inflict any damage on the quality and purity of the water by using any unnatural methods.

This is the main reason why the glass closure was selected instead of other options.

“We knew that this kind of water, which is actually much older than any of the more famous water brands, cannot go into a plastic bottle,” says Aleš Mička, the design director of the Touch Branding studio, where the packaging was developed. “We also knew right from the start that we’d like to avoid using a screw cap because the water would be in contact with the plastic padding, and it’s not so unique,” adds Aleš, who handled the whole design process from naming to final design and production. So after looking at many bottles which are compatible with the Vinolok glass closure, the Nairobi bottle by Verallia was selected.

To put a crown on the whole packaging, as well as to preserve the unique qualities of the water, a series of four different finishes of the glass closure were prepared.

The basis for each is a clear high-top Vinolok with size 18.5 for which the Nairobi bottle is certified. The first Vinolok was inserted with a flat deep blue jewellery stone which matches the colour of the Aquantica logo. Similar approach was taken with the second option where the colour of the sealing ring was also made in the same deep blue colour. With the third option, the top part of the Vinolok was coloured to exactly match the light blue colouring of the bottle neck, creating a seamless transition between the bottle and the closure. The last version of the closure is coated with high-gloss silver, creating a premium look for a water that sends a crystal clear message to every consumer about how exceptional this water is – a water from the ice age.

Design studio profile:

The indenting on the bottom of the Nairobi bottle served well for the whole design concept. The notches are a reference to the geological layers through which the melting water travelled before it was deposited in an enormous underground lake. The lines and dots in the actual design extend this reference even further. But the design is also a reminder of the vibration of water that brings life-giving energy. And since the Aquantica is not just any other water, this vibration makes it fundamentally different from the other waters, which was pointed out by professional searchers of groundwater. They performed a series of repeated tests and found extraordinary turbulent reaction of the Aquantica water.

The Prague based studio Touch Branding constantly challenge themselves to create exciting design & communication. With an ever growing passion for the big picture and a dedication to the smallest details, they strive to make projects simple in message, beautiful in execution and different from the rest. The studio has received numerous awards both locally and internationally. Since the first day the studio opened its doors in 2007 it partnered with clients big and small to create intelligent, exciting and memorable design and visual communication.

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Does the closure offer more than one size? The Vinolok glass closure comes in a wide range of sizes. You can choose from sizes fitting bottlenecks 17.5,

What kind of drinks is Vinolok

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What about the design?

Vinolok offers many advanced options for design customisation of the closure: colour variations in all available Pantone colours,

Does Vinolok fit into all bottles?

printing, metal ornaments, inserted

designed for? Vinolok is suitable for still

Vinolok is compatible with most common

jewellery stones and more.

wines, spirits, still water, oils and vinegar.

bottles. Vinolok provides a list of all

18.2, 18.5, 20.0, 21.5 and 23.0 mm.

recommended bottles, visit www.vinolok.cz.

basics Find out why producers of spirits, water and wine from all around the world use the Vinolok glass closure. It has absolutely no impact on the aroma or flavour of the content and it’s completely leak proof. The Vinolok glass closure transforms every bottle into an exceptional packaging experience.

Is there a way to decrease the What OTR values does the

Is Vinolok suitable for bottling

Vinolok glass closure reach?

red wines and vintage wines?

The OTR values are around 0.0026 ml

Yes. A number of our customers use Vinolok

O2/day. The data are taken from the AWRI

for bottling red wines. The oldest great

research; the complete report is available at www.vinolok.cz

Are Vinolok closures officially tested? Vinolok closures are tested in accordance with food safety regulations; apart from that, they are also tested

wines aging under Vinolok date to the years

level of oxygen in a bottle?

There are two ways how to decrease the level of oxygen in a bottle: first, by regulating the headspace in the bottle; and second, by using an inert gas.

2003 and 2005 (Schloss Vollrads, Umathum, Henschke, J.B.Becker and others).

in oenological institutions such as the Geisenheim in Germany or the AWRI in Australia. All test results are available at www.vinolok.cz

Is it possible to use glass closures

Is it safe to use the Vinolok

in an automatic bottling line?

closure? Vinolok is subject to strict

There are many ways how to use Vinolok

output inspection, testing its resilience,

when bottling: from the simplest hand

safety and flawless functionality. Using

capping to the semi-automated bottling

the right technology ensures that there is

machines to high-speed, fully automatic

no risk of the glass chipping or breaking

bottling lines.

during bottling, storage or transportation.

Tests conducted by VLB Berlin certify Vinolok’s endurance.

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available sizes The Vinolok glass closure comes in sizes fitting bottlenecks of 17.5, 18.2, 18.5, 20.0, 21.5 and 23.0 mm. The Vinolok glass closure has two different heights of the top to choose from. The Low Top comes in 17.5, 18.2, and 18.5 sizes and is

17.5 17.5 17.5 ± 0,5 ± 0,5 mm mm ± 0,5 mm

18.2 18.2 18.2 ± 0,3 ± 0,3 mm mm ± 0,3 mm

18.5 18.5 18.5 ± 0,5 ± 0,5 mm mm ± 0,5 mm

20.0 20.0 20.0 ± 0,5 ± 0,5 mm mm ± 0,5 mm

21.5 21.5 21.5 ± 0,5 ± 0,5 mm mm ± 0,5 mm

23.0 23.0 23.0 ± 0,5 ± 0,5 mm mm ± 0,5 mm

mainly used for wine packaging. The heavier version High Top is available in all sizes and is used primarily for spirits and water packaging.

how it works The Vinolok closure is a part of a system consisting of a closure, a bottle, and a capsule.The capsule (1) ensures the safety of the system during storage and transport. The glass closure (2) is made from high quality glass and is resistant against mechanical damage. The sealing ring (3) is made of Elvax by DuPont and

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contains no phthalates or allergens.

The closure can be inserted into the bottle (4) manually or by a semi or fully automatic bottling machines.

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Použít Pantone 814 U a Pantone 425 U

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favourite

vinolok

Malice Retro

Symphonie

Flavour

Producer: Verallia

Producer: Vetropack

Producer: Saverglass

Volumes: 750 ml

Volumes: 350 and 500 ml

Volumes: 700 and 750 ml

Colours: white, cannelle

Colours: white, cuvée

Colours: white

Qbic

Producer: Saverglass

Volumes: 350, 500, 750 and 1000 ml Colours: white

Renaissance Flute Producer: Verallia Volumes: 750 ml Colours: white, cannelle

bottles

Take a look at our selection of the Vinolok suitable bottles. We think that they are elegant, creative and unique just like any Vinolok closure. All major bottle manufacturers offer wide range of products that are compatible with Vinolok.

Jade Producer: Saverglass Volumes: 500 ml Colours: white

Phoenix

Bordo Exclusive

Producer: Steklarna Hrastnik

Producer: Müller Glas & Co

Volumes: 700 ml

Volumes: 750 ml

Colours: white

Colours: white

THE HIGH QUALITY GLASS CLOSURE ADDS TO THE

PACKAGING OF OUR ULTRA PREMIUM CANADIAN VODKA, IT IS ONE MORE ELEMENT THAT SUPPORTS BOTH THE BRAND POSITIONING AND PRICE POSITIONING. facebook.com/nutrlvodk a

producer Nütrl Vodka, Canada product Nütrl Vodka closure clear high-top with one colour printing

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Vinolok comes in three basic colours: clear, rosé, and black. Clear and black options come in a low-top and a high-top version and can be finished with a frost effect, rosé option is available as a low-top only. The basic set can be customised in almost endless variations.

We call it the Vinolok Design Options. All Vinolok closures can be enhanced using various printing techniques. From one colour to full 4-colour offset, or special Pantone or metallic colours.

Printing logo, symbol or text on the Vinolok closure creates a new opportunity to add further value to your products. Customers love to keep Vinolok closures as unconventional souvenirs.

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inspiring.

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colours Bring your packaging to life with Vinolok Colours.

This customisation option plays with the colour of the closure.

You can cover the clear or the black Vinolok with transparent or opaque colours. The sealing ring can also be tinted any colour.

Blac liqueur Blac is a brand of flavoured chocolate liqueurs. In the concept for packaging the idea was to show the contrast between the smooth chocolate taste and the distinctive tastes of chilli, mint and orange flavours. This contrast is manifested in the packaging materials. The bottle is made from black matted glass with soft shapes, while the glass closures have been tinted bold vivid colours that represent the flavour.

The sealing ring on the Vinolok has been coloured to match the colour of the closure. As in the drink itself, these two contrasting materials create very tasteful combinations.

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metallic Add glamour to your packaging with Vinolok Metallic.

The Metallic set of Vinolok Design Options lets you combine the glass closure with metals. The closure can be coated with a highgloss silver metal or coloured with a special ink with a metallic effect. Very popular is the use of metal ornaments which are placed on top of the Vinolok closure.

Fros vodka This vodka concept is a modern take on the old tale of Viking voyagers who are believed to have chilled their drink by plunging it into the icy waters of the North Sea on a rope tied to the boat they travelled on. This is the reason why the bottle is part frosted and part crystal clear. The silver metal coating was chosen for the Vinoseal closure to complement the chilling feeling the bottle gives even when it is not in the fridge.

A black metallic ornament symbolizing ice inserted on the top of the closure highlights the triple charcoal filtering.

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sparkle Make your packaging shine with Vinolok Sparkle.

Add various jewellery stones on any Vinolok. From little gems in a form of a sticker to large size stones of all colours and shapes.

Or refine the Vinolok glass closure with a Rhinestone Cut – have the top of the closure cut into a shape that resembles a precious stone.

Cognac Maison Giraudé The Premier Grand Cru de Cognac by Maison Giraud is a cognac concept for a family owned and operated cognac house. Glass is a very common closure for cognac bottles, very often crafted to such perfection it is the true crown of the packaging. Such closures are extremely expensive, which is why the Prestige design concept uses Rhinestone cut Vinolok. The production of this closure is much more affordable and the result is both very practical for standard bottles and aesthetically pleasing.

The closure is finished with black and gold printing, making it a gem worth keeping even after the bottle is empty.

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woody The most unique closure in the world. Vinolok Woody.

This collection is a symbiosis of two amazing materials—wood and glass—and we are proud to say that no other closure offers this combination of materials. The wooden top comes in several colours and can be enhanced with debossing or hot foil stamping.

La Espina Tequila Wooden Vinolok gives this tequila a sleek and modern look while maintaining the heritage, quality and craftsmanship behind the spirit.

The wooden top comes in six different standard colours but it can also be painted with a see-through colour which keeps the structure of the wood intact. The wooden Vinolok can be finished with classic printing or foil embossing.

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Say goodbye to a corkscrew With Vinolok, it takes just a click to open a bottle.

Another click, and the bottle is sealed back and completely leakproof again. Easy to open and easy to close. Say goodbye to a corkscrew.

For more information visit www.vinolok.cz