NAPA VALLEY, LOS CARNEROS, Calif. – October 8, 2024 – Napa Valley’s Cuvaison winery (www.Cuvaison.com) is excited to announce that it has begun transitioning its acclaimed portfolio of wines to a new custom lightweight bottle. Made in collaboration with Santa Rosa-based M. A. Silva USA, an award-winning manufacturer of premium corks, glass, and packaging, the new bottle reduces the overall bottle weight by 27%. Adding to the luxury look and feel of the new packaging, the lightweight bottle completely eliminates the use of foil capsules and instead features an elegant painted drip ring (bead). The new lightweight bottle has already begun rolling out on the 2022 vintage of Cuvaison’s Small Lot and Micro Lot wines.
“As a winery that embraces sustainability as one of our core values, this was a very important initiative for Cuvaison,” said President and CEO Daniel Zepponi, who spearheaded the design and rollout of the new packaging “Because it has been estimated that anywhere from 40 to 68% of the wine industry’s carbon footprint comes from glass packaging and transport, the new bottle—combined with streamlined and consolidated manufacturing and shipping—will dramatically reduce our carbon emissions.”
While Zepponi takes pride in the environmental benefits of the new packaging, which include the use of 60% recycled glass for the new bottles, completely eliminating the use of tin capsules, and streamlining manufacture, transport and storage, he is particularly proud of the luxury look of the packaging. “While our goal was to decrease the overall weight by at least 25%, the real challenge was preserving the luxury aesthetic of the bottle. To create a significantly more sustainable bottle that doesn’t sacrifice the luxury look and feel we prize, we focused on thinner glass and the design of the punt and bilge, while adding the gold-painted drip ring. We are thrilled with the results.”
Based on data from M. A. Silva, by transitioning to the custom “right-weight” bottles, Cuvaison will eliminate the production of at least 36.3 metric tonnes of CO2 each year, which is the equivalent of burning 40,000 pounds of coal. Additionally, by streamlining production and US transport, including painting the drip rings where the bottles are produced, Cuvaison will eliminate an additional 2.5 metric tonnes of CO2.
“M. A. Silva USA is honored to continue our partnership with Cuvaison, a winery that shares our deep commitment to sustainability, as we aim to reduce carbon emissions and environmental impact together,” said M. A. Silva National Sales Manager Ryan Riewerts. “As the first California cork supplier to join the ClimateSmart™ program and receive Green Business certification, we demonstrate our beliefs in sustainability through our actions. This partnership with Cuvaison exemplifies our dedication to supplying high-quality natural cork stoppers and premium, lightweight glass to wineries across North America, helping them achieve their sustainability goals. M. A. Silva was proud to assist in Cuvaison’s eco-journey, and together we will reduce the wine industry’s environmental impact.”
Zepponi added, “As an industry, I think we have struggled to introduce lightweight bottles that are still beautiful and convey a sense of luxury. As a small company that likes to think big, I believe we have met that challenge.”
ABOUT CUVAISON
Founded in 1969, Cuvaison is one of the pioneering wineries that shaped the modern era of California winemaking, helping to catapult Napa Valley onto the global stage as one of the world’s most revered wine regions. More than five decades later, Cuvaison remains true to its pioneering roots. Still an independent, family-owned, working winery, Cuvaison is dedicated to making estate-grown Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from its historic Tai Estate Vineyard in the cool Los Carneros appellation of Napa Valley. Recognized as quintessential expressions of cool-climate Napa Valley varieties, Cuvaison’s wines offer seamless balance, vibrant fruit and vineyard-inspired character and complexity. For more information, visit cuvaison.com.
