North Bay Business Journal

Wineries pursue pouches for premium brands

As Patrick Krutz, maker of a Sonoma County-based luxury-tier small-scale brand, looks for the best vessel to carry his new music industry-oriented second label into venues where such bands play, he’s considering a single-serving plastic pouch. Meanwhile in Napa Valley, people behind the edgy X Winery, Miracle One Wines and Clif Bar energy snacks have opted for a 1.5-liter spout-equipped bag without the box for new wine ventures.

Packaging take traditional turn in navigating changing consumer tastes

The “giant 47-pound rooster” will still strut its stuff on the HRM Rex Goliath label, but the new design for the top-selling popular-premium-tier wine brand is getting a makeover as part of a trend in wine packaging somewhat away from the fanciful and more toward the traditional.

Wine packaging shifts to thrift in cost, resources

NORTH BAY – Economics and environmental sensitivity are driving wine packaging design and supply in 2009.

Wine: Napa printer acquires St. Helena firm; 3-liter ‘Mini-Barrel’ offered

Printing Services Napa Valley at the beginning of April acquired St. Helena commercial printer Albright Printing & Design from Tim Doran, whose family started it as Doran’s Printing, sold it in November 2002 and regained ownership recently. … Several new North Coast wineries and tasting rooms have opened or received a green light recently. … ***

In wine packaging news, 585 Wine Partners of Sonoma launched a 3-liter “Mini-Barrel” format for the Red Truck brand in Wal-Mart Stores’ Sam’s Club chain, with a wider retail rollout planned this year. … Andrews & Thornley Construction of Napa in mid-March started reconstruction on Napa Valley Vintners’ new headquarters in the former Jackse Winery in St. Helena. … The Academy of Wine Communications, a Napa-based trade group for wine marketing and publicity professionals, has new officials as the organization looks to expand membership beyond Napa and Sonoma counties and reach new-generation media such as blogs and social networks. … In wine shipping news, Inertia Beverage Group of Napa launched WineREvolution.com to allow restaurants and retailers in 12 states to purchase 60-plus brands not commonly distributed via traditional wholesalers. … Cork stopper distributor M.A. Silva Corks USA in Santa Rosa was certified by the Green Business Program Sonoma County, coordinated by the Sonoma County Economic Development Board and the Business Environmental Alliance. … Wine People items