From Relic to Reality: Global Package’s Custom Shipwreck Bottle for Fait Main

/in , /by

Winemaker Benoit Toquette

In 2010, a 170-year-old glass bottle was pulled from the depths of the Atlantic. Recovered from a 1850s Pauillac shipwreck, the relic was weathered, pitted, and shaped by time. It wasn’t just an artifact; it was a silent narrative of heritage and a standard for a new creative ambition.

When winemaker Benoit Touquette held it in his hands, he envisioned a vessel that possessed the gravitas of a high-end collector’s item while remaining an accessible piece of art. Driven to capture its “extraordinary elegance and charisma,” he even had the weathered artifact mapped via MRI technology in a hospital to precisely record its geometric truth.

But there was a problem. What he envisioned seemed impossible to replicate at scale.

The initial path toward this vision involved commissioning artisanal, hand-blown bottles. While this aligned with the brand’s handmade ethos, the prototypes posed significant challenges in terms of cost and consistency. The hand-blown glass lacked the uniformity required for modern bottling; variations in neck diameter made it impossible to ensure a reliable seal for the corks. They were beautiful, but they couldn’t scale, and they couldn’t survive the technical rigors of a professional cellar.

1850s Antique Bottle

This is where most ideas stop. Instead, this is where Global Package began. To put this handmade vision into the hands of wine drinkers, the project required a move toward a balance between creative vision and technical precision. This is the essence of industrial artistry: the ability to use high-precision manufacturing to replicate the warmth and character of a one-of-a-kind object. Global Package provided the engineering expertise to translate the ancient, organic aesthetic of the shipwreck relic into a technically sound vessel suitable for global distribution.

 

Engineering the Custom
Fait Main Shipwreck Bottle with Global Package

To translate a one-of-a-kind historical artifact into a bottle that could be produced at scale, the project moved beyond traditional manufacturing into the realm of high-stakes engineering. While the shipwreck provided the aesthetic soul, Global Package provided the technical skeleton. The transition from a “dream” to a commercial reality required a decision virtually unheard of in glass bottle manufacturing: the investment in three distinct sets of molds for a single bottle design.

“I’d never heard of that before,” notes Erica Harrop, CEO of Global Package. “No one has ever said we’re going to make the same bottle, but slightly different.”

This was not merely a technical preference; it was a strategic move to create an anti-mass-production luxury signal. By using three subtly distinct molds, Global Package ensured that no two bottles on a shelf are identical. These slight variations in the height of the neck and the positioning of the cartouche replicate the “personality” of a handmade product. This “industrial artistry” allows the brand to scale without losing the intimate, artisanal character that defines the Fait Main ethos.

Custom Fait Main Bottle by Global Package

The complexity of the design extends to its intentional use of asymmetry. By incorporating hidden symmetrical points and asymmetric elements, the engineering team disguised the industrial process. This “designed imperfection” serves as a powerful indicator of authenticity, contributing to a look that is visually intriguing and exceptionally difficult to replicate.

Furthermore, the bottle’s tactile signatures, including the “Fait Main” embossing on the base and the sculpted Coat of Arms of Lyon, are engineered to create brand memory in the hand, not just on the label.

 

The Liquid Justification: Three Heritage Terroirs

The engineering of such a distinctive vessel was driven by the extraordinary quality of the liquid it protects. Benoit Touquette isolates the distinct geological voices of three heritage vineyards, each requiring a presentation of equal gravity. These sites provide the structural power and refined elegance that define the Fait Main portfolio.

Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard

Located on an ancient, gravelly riverbed in St. Helena, this site acts as the spiritual anchor of the collection. The fruit possesses immense concentration and a savory, volcanic nerve. This Cabernet Sauvignon is defined by a commanding presence with layers of graphite and crushed stone. The firm, muscular tannins reflect the rigorous discipline required to tame such powerful fruit, providing the primary movement of the brand’s site-specific narrative.

Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard

Situated on the deep, well-draining soils of the Oakville bench, Missouri Hopper offers a textural counterpoint to the mineral intensity of Las Piedras. The wines balance structural power with an illuminated elegance. They are characterized by ultra-silky, well-coated tannins and concentrated dark fruits. This refined texture allows the wine to remain approachable in its youth while possessing the architectural integrity required for decades of evolution.

Fait Main Single Vineyard Collection

Tierra Roja Vineyard

On the eastern edge of Oakville, the iron-rich red volcanic soils of Tierra Roja produce a Cabernet Sauvignon of profound earth-driven intensity. The typical character is one of opulent power balanced by a persistent mineral nerve. Silky, finely woven tannins carry substantial fruit weight with ease. This marriage of density and poise ensures the wine possesses the depth required for long-term cellaring.

These three expressions of Napa Valley terroir represent the liquid legacy of the estate. By reconciling the ancient soul of the shipwreck design with the precision of machine-made glass, Global Package ensured the vessel and the wine exist in total harmony. The result is packaging that mirrors the wines themselves: expressive, handcrafted, and built with absolute intention.

Integrating Hunt Slonem’s
Neo-Expressionist Art into the Fait Main Narrative

To complete the artistic trinity of Fait Main, the label serves as the final, evocative layer of the project’s narrative. For the latest vintage, this visual identity has evolved into a dedicated Artist Collection Series. It features specially commissioned designs by the acclaimed American neo-expressionist painter Hunt Slonem. Benoit notes that his “vision for custom-crafted Fait-Main wine bottles wouldn’t be complete without them.” This collaboration ensures the external aesthetic elevates the liquid within.

Hunt Slonem’s “The Bunnywall” displayed at Serge Sorokko Gallery in California

Slonem is celebrated for his vivid compositions of butterflies and birds. His works are featured in the permanent collections of prestigious institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim. He is perhaps most famous for his “Bunny” paintings. This specific imagery resonates with the Fait Main ethos. The rabbit’s symbolism as an image of creativity and abundance serves as a perfect match for wine. It provides metaphors that align naturally with the role of a vintage in celebration and conviviality.

The integration of these bespoke labels reflects a deep conceptual harmony. In the cellar, winemaking is defined by a rigorous, repetitive discipline. Similarly, “Slonem’s signature repetition of shapes” reminds the winemaker of the “diligence and discipline required in winemaking.” This intersection of evocative artistic expression and precise viticultural practice ensures the labels are far more than decorative flourishes. They are thoughtful visual counterparts to the wine’s story.

 

Reconciling Artistic Vision with Commercial Reality

By moving beyond the initial challenges of artisanal production and embracing the precision of industrial artistry, the project successfully translated a high-concept dream into a tangible, commercial success. The collaboration with partners like Global Package and Hunt Slonem provided the necessary architecture to house a wine of such individual character.

Ultimately, Fait Main is a testament to the power of collaboration in the pursuit of excellence. It proves that when a winemaker’s uncompromising standards meet the rigorous standards of design and manufacturing, the result is a pour greater than the sum of its parts.

Ready to translate your brand’s unique vision into a custom-engineered masterpiece? Reach out for a strategic design consultation or discuss our bespoke glass capabilities today by contacting us at sales@globalpackage.net or +1 707 224-5670.

Glass Weight is Just One Factor Driving Successful Packaging

/in /by

By Erica Harrop

I read with interest the Packaging Survey Report in the latest issue of Wine Business Monthly, and would like to add my thoughts on the topic. My first point is an obvious one: there are many factors, not just glass weight, that influence a consumer’s decision to purchase a wine. While heavier bottles do confer a ‘luxury’ aspect to a wine, they aren’t the most important determination for a buyer. The reputation of the brand, the label’s ability to compellingly tell the brand’s story, and, critically, the strength of the overall bottle’s design to complement every aspect of the brand’s packaging are significant influencers.

Global Package is particularly skilled at bringing all these aspects together into a cohesive packaging composition. Our years-long partnership with our glass suppliers has resulted in many innovative designs that have boosted client sales: The Sommelier bottle that features an anti-drip barrier and a ‘sommelier’ groove, which facilities a clean, straight cut of the capsule. The DobleAlto® model that features a double ‘podium’ base, which increases the presence and perceived value of the wine. And the new award-winning Wild Glass line of bottles, which are not only sustainable and 100% PCR, but each bottle is unique, like a work of art.

Bottle decoration also plays an important role in buyer appeal. Our nearly 15-year partnership with Etiq’Etains allows us to offer clients a full range of pewter labels in three distinct categories—Natural (silver), Luxury (gold, bronze, copper), and Modern (many colors, including blue, red, yellow, green, brown, black). Each brings its own attributes to amplify a wine’s brand.

Yes, glass weight does help define quality but it is far from the only contributing factor. Design aspects, especially those on heavier bottles, are equally important. We also know that new glass designs are continually being developed and research shows that early adopters of new design concepts are doing better than those not adapting to change. Our continued work with these and other innovative suppliers assures our and our clients’ future success.

Sustainability is increasingly gaining traction with wine buyers, so wineries are also well advised to consider that trend in packaging decisions. Our recent case study on Acquiesce Winery detailed this winery’s focus on reducing its carbon footprint, choosing lighter weight bottles that saved the winery approximately 12,600 pounds per year in glass, or four ounces per bottle. It also selected shipping cartons that are 100% recyclable paper and pulp. As mentioned above, Estal’s Wild Glass collection of bottles can also be a good solution for wineries seeking more ecological-friendly packaging.

Finally, Chinese glass has proven to be an integral part of the industry, providing affordable and very good, consistent quality that has helped our industry when domestic and European supply shortages occur. Our long-term relationships with Chinese glass suppliers have provided our clients with outstanding options, such as our Elegant Light ™ line of European-style bottle shapes at affordable pricing and featuring a wide neck that defines higher-end wines along with elegant straight lines.

So, Global Package has it all …affordable stock bottles in standard shapes and colors, domestic and European glass, and custom molds for one-of-a-kind bottles for the premium wine market. We welcome your inquiries and invite you to visit our Napa showroom. We remain open during Covid-19, adhering to strict protocols.

 

Global Package Adds to Its Beautiful Wild Glass™ Collection

/in /by

Global Package LLC President and CEO, Erica Harrop, has announced new additions to its beautiful, near 100% recycled Wild Glass™ collection for wines and spirits. The new Wild Glass Dark™ collection—produced by one of Europe’s premier glass companies; Spain’s Estal—is being introduced this month and will be sold in the U.S. exclusively by Global Package.

“We are thrilled to add these new bottles to this extraordinary collection,” says Harrop. “Not only is the manufacturing process for these bottles shorter and more sustainable, it creates bottles each of which is unique and aesthetically beautiful in shape, color, and texture.”

Estal’s Wild Glass™ collection boasts a more sustainable and shorter manufacturing process by embracing “flaws” in the glass, which also tells the story of historical craftsmanship and a legacy of experimentation. “Wild” colors are unique color hues with natural variations to enhance distinctiveness. New designs being introduced this month include the Wild Glass Prima Expressione™ collection of Spumanti, Rhine, Burgundy, Bordelaise wine bottles.
Also new to the collection are the Wild Glass Rude™ spirits bottles, consisting of Lance, Farm, Pilot, Barrel, 1919, and Melee designs. This collection also allows customers efficient ways to expand and customize their bottles, from size and shape to choker diameter.

“I was intrigued by the word “Rude” in the collection name,” Harrop admits. “But I learned that it is drawn from a language being developed in today’s culture, based on asymmetry and imperfections in nature—such as knots in wood, wefts and wrinkles in textiles, veins in stone—and defects in fashion like the torn jeans so fashionable today. It’s fun to watch the Wild Glass™ collection morph into such creative new products!”
Global Package has been an acclaimed industry leader as it consistently introduces new designs into its extensive catalog of offerings, from its Elegant Light™ collection of lighter weight bottles to its opulent DobleAlto™ collection, as well as a full range of in-stock standard bottles.

Global Package, located in the Napa Valley, is experienced in supplying high-end wine and spirits glass bottles to North American markets. With a comprehensive off-the-shelf portfolio, and the opportunity for customization and decoration, Global Package can assist your brand with the most appropriate solution whatever your budget or expectations. From glass bottles, bottle decorations, pewter labels, to bar top closures and corks, Global Package can assist with your project. Start your packaging journey today by calling +1 707 224-567 or emailing info@globalpackage.net.

Global Package Celebrates 20 Years of Exceptional Glass Packaging

/in , /by

Twenty years ago, Erica Harrop founded Global Package with a simple belief: exceptional brands deserve exceptional packaging, and exceptional partners. This year, we at Global Package are incredibly proud to celebrate our 20th anniversary. Since our founding in 2006 in the heart of Napa Valley, we have been dedicated to providing premium glass bottles and innovative packaging solutions to some of the world’s finest wineries and distilleries. What began as a bold vision to bridge the gap between world-class glass design and local craft producers, and one woman’s belief that wineries and distilleries deserved better design, better technical expertise, and better service, has grown into one of North America’s most respected glass packaging companies. Over the past two decades, we have remained steadfast in our core mission: to offer outstanding, creative, and sustainable packaging, backed by unsurpassed customer service and deep technical expertise.

As we look back on twenty years of evolution, we are reminded of how our passion for glass has shaped the shelf presence of countless brands. From pioneering lightweight designs to bringing Estal’s revolutionary “Wild Glass” to the U.S. market, we have navigated an ever-changing landscape by prioritizing our clients’ aspirations.

How It All Began

Our story is deeply rooted in the winemaking industry. Our founder and CEO, Erica Harrop, started her career as a UC Davis-trained enologist and completed international wine studies at the prestigious University of Bordeaux. However, her professional journey took a transformative turn in 1987. Taking a job “on a whim” with the French management team at Demptos Glass at the age of 24, she unexpectedly fell in love with the artistry of glassmaking.

As Erica often reflects, “To watch glass be made is a beautiful thing… to watch hot lava glass come out of the furnace and turn into some beautiful shape”. She quickly realized that glass was her true calling, describing the intricate process of structural bottle design as a complex, rewarding puzzle. “Bottles are like a living thing,” Erica explains. “Each bottle will be slightly different… and that’s the way it is, a little bit like wine”.

Armed with more than twenty years of leadership experience at some of the country’s major glass manufacturers and a newly minted MBA from Sonoma State University, Erica founded Global Package in 2006. Her goal was to leverage her enology background and packaging expertise to source the world’s most exquisite glass and deliver it with unparalleled technical support to domestic winemakers and distillers.

Legacy of Growth

In our twenty years of business, we have crossed several landmark milestones that have shaped who we are today. One of our earliest achievements was establishing exclusive, strategic alliances with Europe’s most innovative glass design companies and factories. These partnerships enabled us to bring high-end, European-style aesthetic refinement straight to the North American market.

In 2008, recognizing the dual need for cost savings and environmental responsibility, we launched our proprietary Elegant Light Line. Engineered in collaboration with highly competitive partner factories, this collection of lightweight bottles was designed to reduce shipping costs and carbon footprints without compromising the voluptuous curves and deep punts expected of premium packaging.

Furthering our offering of sustainable glass packaging options, our exclusive partnership with Spanish design house Estal brought the revolutionary Wild Glass collection to U.S. shores in 2020. Made from nearly 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) glass, Wild Glass celebrates natural, organic “imperfections” like aesthetic bubbles and slight color variations. Erica championed this shift, stating, “What happens in a glass factory is they are sorting for something near perfect. What we’re saying for Wild Glass is the industry doesn’t need near perfect; they need something functional”. The result is that each of these bottles is truly unique since the production process allows for slight imperfections in the natural formation of the glass to remain, making each bottle an aesthetic one-of-a-kind work of art.

Another monumental step in our history took place in 2024, when we officially transitioned into a multigenerational family business. Daniel Harrop, Erica’s son, joined our sales team, covering Southern California and Oregon. Having spent five years learning our backend operations as an assistant and gaining outside experience in beverage marketing, Daniel’s addition solidified our legacy. As Erica proudly noted, “Daniel has not only paid his dues, he has also earned his wings in our industry. He’s excelled in both production and packaging aspects and is a strategic thinker”. Daniel added, “With her passion for the industry, my mom has steered Global Package into being a leading provider of exceptional glass and service. I am proud to become an integral player”.

Comprehensive Portfolio Built for Every Dream

Over the years, we have meticulously built a comprehensive, off-the-shelf, and bespoke portfolio to meet any winery or distillery’s aspirations. We believe packaging is the very first touchpoint a consumer has with a brand, which is why we continually push the envelope of glass design.

Beyond our diverse off-the-shelf collections, we have continuously expanded our custom bottle capabilities to help wineries and distilleries create a truly unique and powerful statement for their brands.  These include custom molds, bespoke embossing, precision silk-screening and printing, elegant attached medallions, unique bottle finishes, and a vast range of striking glass colors. Our specialty is in managing the entire bespoke journey from start to finish, guiding everything from initial creative sketch through quoting, custom mold design, bottle manufacture, rigorous quality control, custom decoration, and final timely delivery.

This collaborative, technically precise approach has paved the way for some of our most exciting partnerships, enabling us to turn highly ambitious design concepts into striking, shelf-ready realities.

Rather than opting for a standard stock shape, the brand partnered with us to engineer a fully bespoke bottle that reflects its unique craft. Since the gin is distilled using historic, old-school methodologies and botanical ingredients, we incorporated intricate details and graceful, fluid curves that honor the rich legacy of pre-Prohibition distilling. We focused heavily on the bottle’s ergonomics, designing an incredibly smooth, seamless transition from the neck to the shoulders. This elegant slope ensures that visual elements wrap flawlessly around the glass, while remaining comfortable to grip and pour. The resulting silhouette radiates premium heritage, commanding a powerful and unmistakable presence on any crowded back bar or retail shelf.

A more recent challenge was our collaboration with winemaker Benoit Touquette, who sought to recreate the extraordinary elegance and charisma of a 170-year-old bottle recovered from an 1850s shipwreck. To capture this “silent narrative of heritage” and balance the gravitas of a collector’s item with an “accessible piece of art,” we employed a level of industrial artistry. In a strategic move virtually unheard of in standard glass manufacturing, we invested in three distinct sets of molds for this single design. This allowed us to introduce intentional, designed imperfections, such as subtle variations in neck height and cartouche positioning, ensuring no two bottles are completely identical.

By balancing engineering asymmetry with hidden symmetrical points, we replicated the warm, authentic personality of a handmade vessel while keeping it technically sound for global distribution. Finished with tactile signatures like the sculpted Coat of Arms of Lyon and “Fait Main” base embossing, the resulting bottle creates an unforgettable brand memory in the consumer’s hand.

Exemplary Service and Reliable Sourcing

We understand that shipping delays and supply chain volatility can devastate bottling schedules. That is why over the years we’ve worked hard to establish ourselves as an embedded partner rather than just a transactional vendor. In our two decades of business, we have built a robust local supply chain, maintaining extensive stock across a broad network of local warehouses in California, Oregon, and North Carolina. This strategic footprint guarantees that both boutique and large-scale wineries and distilleries have rapid, reliable, and straightforward access to premium glass, providing a swift route to market.

Experience That Performs Under Pressure

As Global Package celebrates its 20th anniversary, Erica Harrop is also taking on another milestone: competing in the 2026 Pacific Cup, a 2,100-mile offshore race from San Francisco to Hawaii. Success offshore isn’t about avoiding challenges. It’s about preparation, technical expertise, adaptability, calm decision-making, and solving problems when conditions change.

Those same qualities have shaped Global Package from the very beginning. Whether engineering a custom bottle, navigating complex supply chains, managing global factory relationships, or helping clients bring ambitious packaging concepts to life, Erica and her team have built a reputation for finding solutions where others see obstacles. It’s this combination of structural engineering expertise, technical knowledge, trusted factory partnerships, and unwavering commitment that has earned the confidence of wineries, distilleries, and beverage brands for the past two decades.

You can follow Erica’s journey on instagram and on substack.

Looking Forward to the Next Twenty Years

As we raise a glass to celebrate this remarkable milestone, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the wineries, distilleries, and industry partners who have trusted us with their brands over the past twenty years. The glass industry will continue to evolve, but our commitment to sustainability, premium design, technical excellence, and exceptional service remains unchanged.

We look forward to partnering with you over the next twenty years, transforming creative visions into beautiful, functional packaging that helps brands stand out for generations to come.

If you have something in mind or want to explore what’s possible, please contact our team with any queries. Fill out our contact form, email us at sales@globalpackage.net, or call +1 707 224-5670.

Global Package holds ample inventory of the eco-friendly and sustainably produced RUDE collection of glass bottles for wine and spirits from Estal

Global Package Exhibiting at the 2023 ADI Craft Spirits Conference and Vendor Expo

/in /by

Global Package will be exhibiting again at the American Distilling Institute’s Craft Spirits Conference & Vendor Expo in Las Vegas on August 23rd and 24th. For over 20 years, the ADI has played a major role in bringing together the craft spirits industry and has provided us with another great opportunity for us to reunite with familiar friends and get to know new ones.

Global Package along with Estal Packaging will be at Booth #206 at The Mirage Convention Center show hall. Ready to unpack the core of your brand, we’ll provide effective packaging solutions no matter your budget or expectations.

Among many of our outstanding and innovative packaging solutions, we will be exhibiting the new RUDE collection from Estal. With an eco-friendly and sustainable production resulting in an intentionally uneven and blemished glass bottle aesthetic, the charm of the RUDE collection lies in perfect imperfections.

It’s still not too late to purchase a ticket direct from the ADI to see our comprehensive off-the-shelf portfolio and customization opportunities yourself, and discuss with our knowledgeable team the packaging vision you have for your brand.

We are now preparing our calendar for this incredible event, and we would love to connect with you during the conference. If you’re planning to be there, kindly let us know by reaching out to me directly via email at eharrop@globalpackage.net or through the ‘Send Us a Question’ feature on our website. This will enable us to schedule a time to meet with you to discuss any queries you have about our products, or our range of services. We look forward to the opportunity to meet you in person.

We’re looking forward to seeing you all soon!

If you are unable to attend the exhibition, but still want to see our range including the new RUDE collection by Estal, please contact us by calling 707 224 5670 or emailing info@globalpackage.net for more information.

Global Package, located in the Napa Valley, is experienced in supplying high-end wine and spirits glass bottles to North American markets. With a comprehensive off-the-shelf portfolio, and the opportunity for customization and decoration, Global Package can assist your brand with the most appropriate solution whatever your budget or expectations. From glass bottles, bottle decorations, pewter labels, to bar top closures and corks, Global Package can assist with your project. Start your packaging journey today by calling +1 707 224-567 or emailing info@globalpackage.net.

 

 

Global Package Exhibits New Bottle Collections at WIN Expo 2021

/in /by

Napa, CA October 27, 2021 — Global Package LLC Is thrilled to showcase new bottle collections in Booth #230 at the upcoming Wine Industry Expo. The Tradeshow and Conference will be held at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa on Thursday, December 2nd from 9am to 4pm.

The WIN Expo was paused last year due to COViD-19 precautions. According to Global Package President and CEO, Erica Harrop: “We are thrilled the Expo is back so we can show off our new award-winning bottle designs,” she enthuses. “It’s great to get back in touch with our colleagues at WIN and our friends and customers in the industry. The passage of time has not slowed the creative juices of our glass supply partners, so come and visit us to see what’s new! We will be showing off the new PRIMA and RUDE bottles in the distinctive Wild Glass™ collection.”

Estal’s acclaimed 100% ‘real cycle’ Wild Glass™ and the Sommelier Mouth collections both include new Flint glass options. Wild Glass™ features a beautiful organic and unique hand-made look with an ecologically sustainable production process, utilizing only post-consumer recycled glass. It’s a process that’s both efficient and sustainable, reducing CO2 output because it takes less energy to melt glass than converting raw material into glass.

In addition, Global Package will be displaying the full line of Estal’s Sommelier Mouth (SM) bottles, which feature an anti-drip barrier and groove guides to facilitate a clean, straight cut of the capsule. The line includes the Essentia Burgundy, Bordeaux, and fluted Espiga bottles. All are available in Flint, Wild Glass, and Antique options.

“You have to see these unique bottles in person,” says Erica Harrop, President and CEO. “Our gorgeous new shapes in Wild Glass retain the slight imperfections in the natural formation of the glass, while retaining all the manufacturing positives of automated glass. And our Sommelier Mouth bottles highlight a slightly wider neck and more fluid figure, resulting in maximum strength and adding to the perception of a sleek higher-end bottle. Neither of these bottle collections requires any changes on the bottling line.”

Also on display at the Global Package booth will be samples of the company’s wide range of both stock and custom bottles, in a variety of styles, shapes, and colors. Visitors are encouraged to stop by Booth #230.

Global Package, located in the Napa Valley, is experienced in supplying high-end wine and spirits glass bottles to North American markets. With a comprehensive off-the-shelf portfolio, and the opportunity for customization and decoration, Global Package can assist your brand with the most appropriate solution whatever your budget or expectations. From glass bottles, bottle decorations, pewter labels, to bar top closures and corks, Global Package can assist with your project. Start your packaging journey today by calling +1 707 224-567 or emailing info@globalpackage.net.

 

Global Package Sponsors and Exhibits at this year’s Virtual Wine Packaging Conference on August 4th

/in /by

Global Package, LLC is proud to be a sponsor and exhibitor at this year’s August 4th Wine Packaging Conference, which is hosted by Wine Business Monthly (WBM). After years of being held in Yountville’s Lincoln Theater, the conference has moved to virtual exhibits due to Covid-19.

Check out the Global Package Exhibit Banner here: www.winebusiness.com/event/pack/ Visit GP’s virtual booth and click on Global Package.

“While this year’s exhibit may be virtual, our customer service is always personal and our extensive offerings are very real,” stresses Erica Harrop, founder and CEO of Global Package. “We hope you’ll engage in this exciting new way of connecting with all of us at Global Package!”

Global Packaging will be exhibiting in every category—Bottles, Bottle Decorating, Boxes, Labels, Closures, Design Services, Cartons & Containers, Packaging & Shipping Materials, and Printing—and will be available on that day for live chats between 1pm and 3pm after the online conference from 9:30am to 1pm.

Global Package specializes in customized high-end bottles, bottle design, and decoration services for wine, spirits and food companies, with a focus on unique specialty bottles, pewter labels, custom cartons, and stoppers for wines and spirits.

Also, for the first time in its history, the PACK Design Awards has opened voting to all members of the wine trade, not just attendees of the PACK Conference: “WBM hopes to use this digital platform to broaden the discussion on wine packaging, providing inspiration and information by sharing the unique designs.”

Global Package: Meeting Shipping and Glass Shortage Challenges

/in /by

Global Package LLC President and CEO, Erica Harrop, has announced that despite the chaos in global shipping and short supplies in glass her company is still meeting customer expectations and deadlines. “These are scary times for the industry,” says Harrop , “but our financial strength and established long-term relationships with suppliers in China, Europe, and here in the U.S. are enabling us to negotiate these many bottlenecks, which are a result of many factors.”

Those factors have converged to impact every aspect of supplying the industry. First, was Covid-19, which forced workers to stay home, creating a global labor shortage. In fact, new outbreaks and closures in China are threatening an early recovery. A piece on the TricorBraun website explains:

“A significant increase in demand for consumer goods coincided with labor and capacity shortages due to the pandemic and has caused a situation of intertwined bottlenecks of port congestion, vessel shortages, equipment shortages, chassis shortages, rail shortages, and truck shortages. There is not enough capacity to move cargo in need of transportation.”

Another good article, in Bloomberg Business, adds that rates are being driven to record highs as a result of a dearth of containers:
“Trying to make all those deliveries on time meant that many vessels started making their return journeys empty, saving a few precious hours that would normally be spent picking up vacant boxes to ship back to China. That’s resulted in a glut of containers in European and North American ports and a shortage in Asia, pushing freight rates to astronomical levels on export routes. Those high prices — and the sharp differentials with the cost on the return route — can be seen as price signals that will push the industry to rebalance itself.

The factors that have driven Asia-Europe container rates to record levels of more than $10,000 per 40-foot box aren’t simply a temporary coordination problem. Returning to a semblance of normality could take years.”

According to Harrop, while these factors are influencing pricing and delivery, Global Package has been able work around many of these issues by working with dependable suppliers who are on the front lines in China and Europe and who are initiating alternatives to loosen bottlenecks and improve production capacity, as well as opening up domestic supplies.
“It’s important for us to be as transparent as possible during these trying times,” says Harrop. “Global package anticipated many of the Covid-related shortages prior to the Suez and other shipping obstacle in the past year. So we increased our inventory—and continue to regularly ship from Europe—to now have in place supplies for our wineries and distilleries that can meet seasonal needs. In short, Global Package is proud to be one of the most flexible glass suppliers in America.”

————————–
Global Package, located in the Napa Valley, is experienced in supplying high-end wine and spirits glass bottles to North American markets. With a comprehensive off-the-shelf portfolio, and the opportunity for customization and decoration, Global Package can assist your brand with the most appropriate solution whatever your budget or expectations. From glass bottles, bottle decorations, pewter labels, to bar top closures and corks, Global Package can assist with your project. Start your packaging journey today by calling +1 707 224-567 or emailing info@globalpackage.net.

Global Package’s Elegant Light™ Bottles Get High Marks for Design, Sustainability, and Affordability

/in /by

A couple of months ago Global Package reported the end of last year’s US International Trade Commission’s (USITC)  antidumping duty, which returned favorable pricing for Global Package’s Elegant Light™ line of bottles. Now, with new shipping challenges facing imported European glass, these bottles have become even more in demand.

“With fully stocked warehouses we are perfectly positioned to meet these challenging times,” says Erica Harrop, Founder and CEO of Global Package LLC. “Since 2008, our strong alliances with glass factories in China have enabled us not only to help design the European-style Elegant Light™ line, but also to work toward lighter weights that would reduce shipping costs, as well as to achieve a more sustainable line of bottles at affordable pricing. Today, we have achieved all three goals.”

According to Harrop, the Elegant Light™ bottles are always in stock and include nine shapes that are distinctive for their larger, straight-line necks and voluptuous curves. Included in the line is the recently introduced Bordelais Fiona Carrée bottle, which has the look of a heavier reserve bottle and features an elegantly tapered body, deep punt, and larger neck for bottling-line ease and speed. Other Elegant Light™ bottles include European-style, lighter weight 750ml and 1.5L Bordelaise and Burgundy bottles.

Harrop regularly inspects China factories to ensure they meet strict US-required quality standards, including ISO quality measures—from selection of raw materials through all production processes, including automated production lines and the design of molds—to warehousing of the finished product and shipping procedures. She also works directly with product development teams at the factories to ensure customized products meet customers’ and US quality conformance requirements.

“After decades of working with these suppliers, I have built a strong personal trust between us,” adds Harrop.  “In addition, through my decades of working with domestic and European glass factories, I have developed great respect for the issues and limitations of manufacturing. This enables me to communicate effectively within this environment.”

Global Package’s alliances with both European and Chinese factories also focus on production efficiencies, which allows the company to control costs and pass on savings to customers.

Global Package’s Erica Harrop Announces New Hire: Sales Representative Sue Keechler

/in /by

Global Package President and CEO, Erica Harrop, recently announced the hiring of Sue Keechler to the sales team. Keechler has over 25 years in the wine industry, beginning with Sebastiani Vineyards in 1995 and 13 years with Wine Business Monthly as Account Executive. She has also served as Marketing Specialist with Sonoma Media Investments, Director of Business Development at Berkley Int’l, Tasting Room Associate atJacuzzi Family Winery, and Account Manager at Ramondin USA. When she was advertising sales executive at the Sonoma Index-Tribune in the ‘90s she loved the collaborative nature of the wine industry and decided it would be the focus of her career.

Harrop and Keechler have known each other for 13+ years. “It’s so exciting to come to Global Package and work with Erica,” Keechler says. “I have always respected her for her energy and no-nonsense style. She is an industry leader with tons of knowledge and a flawless reputation.” Keechler was introduced to Harrop when she was at Wine Business Monthly, where she partnered with over 150 customers, including Global Package. The two have kept in touch ever since and when this sales position opened up Harrop reached out to Keechler.

“We are so lucky to have Sue join our team,” says Harrop. “She is accomplished in every facet of our business, from brand building through creative packaging to expertise in all marketing channels, including social media.”

In addition to a wide range of bottles—both stock and custom—in a variety of styles, shapes, colors, and price points, Global Package has recently introduced several new innovative product lines that are making waves: Estal’s Sommelier Mouth anti-drip bottles, which include the new Essentia Burgundy, Bordeaux, and fluted Espiga bottles. and Wild Glass, beautiful 100% sustainable “real cycled” glass bottles that look hand-made. The Wild Glass bottles utilize an ecologically sustainable production process that uses only post-consumer recycled glass, which reduces CO2 output and energy consumption, while retaining the slight imperfections in the natural formation of the glass, creating a one-of-a-kind look.

“I’m so proud to be representing this outstanding supplier,” Keechler says. “While I’ll be familiarizing myself with the full complement of Global Package’s offerings, I’m already familiar with most of the industry players and many of our customers. So I’m excited to get out there and build on these relationships.”