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In Their Own Words: Part Two by Erica Harrop

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As I wrote in our last WIN newsletter entry, we’ve received many wonderfully affirming comments from designers with whom I, and my team at Global Package, have worked over the years. This time I’d like to feature Tina Carpenter, founder and principal of Carpenter Creative. Here are some of Tina’s thoughts, in her own words:

“I met Erica when I moved with my husband, who is a winemaker, from Chicago, Illinois to Napa over 20 years ago. She was working with Saver Glass at the time and I had just started with Colonna Farrell Design. While I was mostly responsible for timelines and logistics, I watched her unrelenting attention to detail at every step of the process.

“Since starting my own design studio, Carpenter Creative, in 2002, Erica and I have worked together on a dozen or so projects. One project, which is still underway, has been one of the most complex I’ve ever worked on, with elaborate decoration embellishments, as well as a custom glass mold.

“The client wanted to reimagine an old bottle he had discovered, so we worked with him to create a shape that echoed the old bottle, yet was emblazoned with his own brand identity. He also wanted to create a sense of discovery for his buyers, so we designed several nuanced treatments of a custom drip bead and a raised logo crest in the proprietary glass mold.

“Erica and her team always bring uncommon knowledge and indispensible resources to every project. Even for complex projects involving many types of embellishment and variations, she patiently and expertly helps to bring the final vision to fruition. I am indebted to her and her team.”

It’s such a pleasure to work with a designer like Tina! She epitomizes the unique blend of creativity and practicality that distinguishes the best in her field. And I am especially indebted to my suppliers who are so innovative and work with great care to accomplish the feats the designers envision. After Tina and the Global Package team submitted drawings of prospective bottle shapes, these wonderful suppliers provided physical samples for us to show the client. Now in the final stages of production, we all look forward to launching this exciting new brand into the marketplace. So stay tuned, there is more to come.

Find part one here.

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.

In Their Own Words: Part One by Erica Harrop

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I’ve recently been receiving some wonderful feedback from designers with whom I’ve worked over many years, so I thought I’d share a few. Here’s one from Tony Auston, founder and creative director of Auston Design Group in Oakland, CA. Auston has designed labels and packaging for some of the region’s leading wine and spirits brands, including Dry Creek Vineyard, Gnarly Head, and Bogle Vineyards, among others.  He has worked with me for over 25 years and it has always been a pleasure to work with him.  He is exceptional at creative design and respects the input of the bottle maker, which is crucial to get a project moving forward and across the finish line. Here’s Tony in his own words:

  “Erica and I met in the early 1990s while I was working on the brand development and package design program for the former Carneros Alambic Distillery. She was t

he Brandy Maker at that time. Soon after that she made the decision to quit the production side and move to the supply side of the wine and spirits industry, starting in sales at Saver Glass. Many years later she founded Global Package.

            Erica and her team have been a valuable resource to me. As a designer, I have to consider all options available to me, so I rarely work with just one glass suppl

ier. While I sometimes may not use her glass that doesn’t mean we aren’t working together on a project. Her vast knowledge of the ins and outs of the industry is of great value to our process.

            We have spent the last few years working together to develop our proprietary custom bottle design for a new high-end vodka brand. Throughout the project, there were plenty of hurtles to clear in the engineering and production process. Erica and her team’s ability to guide us through those challenges was essential to getting a final package design that we and the client are very proud of.”

At Global Package we love working with designers who are creatively inspired, yet clear-eyed about production practicalities, and Tony is a perfect example. He is an exceptional designer and at the same time understands technical production aspects. During our most recent project together—a spirits bottle— we incorporated many elements of decoration and shape to achieve a stunningly unique package, which we’ll be able to feature when the brand launches at the end of the year!

Other similarly creative projects for the wine industry have employed many of the new glass developments Global Package has brought to the US, such as Estal’s Wild Glass ™, and the innovative Sommelier™ ring style bottle. The new Limerick Lane custom bottle is just one recent example of the sommelier ring.  We are proud of our work with outstanding designers like Tony Auston and enjoy the collaboration which brings real innovation to the wine and spirits industries!

Find part two here.

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good News About Bad Actors by Erica Harrop, CEO Global Package

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After reading a recent piece in the trade newsletter, www.retailleader.com , I was encouraged to learn that the DOJ’s Antitrust Division and the FBI have launched an initiative to “deter, detect, and prosecute those who would exploit the supply chain disruptions.” This has led to the “formation of a working group with global partners, including the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the Canadian Competition Bureau, the New Zealand Commerce Commission and the United Kingdom Competition and Markets Authority.”

It’s appalling that there are companies and individuals who are taking advantage of the supply chain situation created post-Covid, and are lining their own pockets by fixing prices and overcharging customers. But it is good news that the government will track down and prosecute these bad actors. However, we are still bedeviled by stalled ships and late shipments, ratcheting up a future of higher prices for everything.

A recent review of my daily shipping logs confirms this. Particularly interesting in a recent log is the Drifting vs Anchor vs Arrived ships. Dates for ETAs are surreal as they are past due, and delays are 30 to 45 days beyond scheduled arrival date. The Drifting category is why none of us know what to expect. Unfortunately, I believe these Issues are likely to last a long while, probably up to the end of the year.

International experts expect similar long-lasting supply chain bottlenecks. While the German publication Wein.plus Wine Magazine recently assessed the 2022 outlook for the international wine industry as positive, they said it with this important caveat: “…cost increases and supply chain disruptions are perceived as a threat.” ((https://magazine.wein.plus/news/). Now, of course, we have the Russia-Ukraine conflict added to the threats.

On another front, industry analysts say that climate change and stricter environmental regulations are concerning producers even more than trade issues, believing they will have a much longer and more profound impact on the health of the industry.
So what to do? Since the beginning of the pandemic—even long before—we at Global Package initiated and solidified partnerships, both domestic and international, to ensure our manufacturers and suppliers are allied in a supportive, strong, sustainable, and close-knit network of resources for us.

A primary example of these strong relationships is Estal, a glass customization specialist, with which we have worked for years and which has consistently led with innovative designs and production practices. Pre-pandemic, Estal introduced its beautiful and ecological Wild Glass™ line of bottles to an enthusiastic US and international market. These bottles are 100% sustainable “real cycled” glass bottles that are one-of-a-kind, since slight imperfections in the natural formation of the glass are allowed to remain, while retaining all the manufacturing positives of automated glass, much like organic handmade art. Estal’s process also doesn’t discard bottles with cosmetic defects, which reduces the discard rate from 25% to 15%.

Global Package also offers 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.

And further addressing environmental concerns, Global Package has in stock the full line of Elegant Light™ bottles, lighter weight bottles that result in more economical and ecological shipping, and which come in the full range of classical shapes and colors.
Yes, these are trying times. But working with a trusted and competent supplier will help relieve the stress of uncertainty. We invite you to learn more about all that Global Package has to offer.

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.

Crafting Unique and Sustainable Bottles With Erica Harrop of Global Package

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The podcast Legends behind the Craft, hosted by Drew Hendricks, delves into the world of craft beverages. Drew interviews top leaders in the wine and craft beverage industry. Drew is the president of Barrels Ahead, a marketing agency specializing in Web Design, SEO, and PPC within the wine and craft spirits industry. 

This week’s episode features Global Package LLC President and CEO Erica Harrop, to find out more about the bottle-making process. Her expertise is invaluable as they cover topics such as sourcing, the evolution of the industry, and how Global Package customizes their bottles. They also dive into “wild glass” and what it means for sustainability in the world of glassmaking, and designing environmentally-friendly glass and packaging. 

You will also learn how Erica transitioned from winemaking to glass, what inspires her, and how Global Package is set apart from the rest of the industry. 

You can listen to the podcast here. 

 

 

Create Your Own Mold? Global Package Has Answers

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According to Global Package LLC President and CEO, Erica Harrop, there are good reasons to consider developing your own bottle mold. First, the international shipping chaos continues and, in some instances, is getting worse as the backlog of orders and shipping containers remains unabated. While Global Package has a ready supply of in-stock bottles available to customers to meet demand this season, the logjam is certainly limiting choice. “So, depending on your brand’s needs and budget, now may the perfect time to consider a new look with a new mold,” says Harrop.

Global Package has many partners with whom they work on behalf of customers to design and engineer custom bottle molds that will elevate a brand’s presence on the retail shelf and in restaurant settings. Beginning with a thorough understanding of a company’s brand marketing strategy, Global Package’s experts help to determine projected volume and price/cost ratios. From there, they will work step-by-step with customers throughout the manufacturing process, including evaluation of materials and timelines, as well as ensuring quality control measures are diligently followed throughout the process. “The end result is a bottle that is inspired, reflecting your brand and resonating with consumers,” says Harrop, adding that her company’s value-added services include 1:1 consultations to advise and implement every aspect of the packaging process.

“We also have gorgeous standard bottles on hand, if that’s your preference,” Harrop stresses. “In fact, one of long-term supply partners, Spain-based Estal, just introduced its 750ml Opera bottle that builds on its DobleAlto collection, sporting a double base that increases the height of the bottle—and thus shelf presence—but without adding weight. The Opera bottle, like the others in the DobleAlto™ collection, also features a Track-Ring that contributes to the bottle’s sleek shape.

“We are fortunate to have planned ahead so we’ve avoided many of the supply chain hurdles now affecting the industry,” Harrop maintains. “In addition to our DobleAlto™ collection, we also have our Elegant Light™ and beautiful one-of-a-kind Wild Glass™ collections. Call or come by for a visit …we’re at your service.”

 

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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.

A Personal Message from Global Package’s Erica Harrop

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I have been in the Napa wine industry for many years, beginning with my first job in 1984 in Carneros, working forimage Jack Davies at his brand new distillery. In 1987 I took my first job on the glass side of the industry, at Demptos Glass (see attached photo). Anyone who has been to Napa/Sonoma knows that this is one of the most beautiful places in the world …I have been so very lucky to live here!

I woke up on Monday morning to the heart-breaking news about the Glass fire and all the damage it was inflicting on our beloved wineries, in both Napa and Sonoma counties. We now are finding out that many of the people who work in our industry will be professionally and personally affected for a long time to come. Dream jobs have gone up in flames, aspirations have evaporated, and extraordinarily beautiful and iconic properties have been destroyed.

I want to express my deepest sorrow for my friends at Castello Di Amorosa and Chateau Boswell for their losses. I am so hoping there will not be more sadness to follow.

When so many classic wineries are gone it affects all of us, all of those businesses and jobs that are still standing. Along with many in our region, I know that losing Meadowood Resort is a huge, devastating loss. Many winemakers have been fortunate to be a part of WineTech, a group founded back in the ‘70s. We have all been fortunate to enjoy the generosity of Meadowood and its leaders, who have allowed us to sit at their table and be part of their amazing world. Thank you, Meadowood, for all you have given us through the years. Please know that we all will be there with you as we begin to rebuild this beautiful valley!

Global Package

Glass Weight is Just One Factor Driving Successful Packaging

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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.

 

Enhancing Elegance in Packaging While Reducing Carbon Footprint

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Winemaker Sue Tipton knew it was time for a change. She had to address some packaging concerns she was learning about from customers and retailers. But she also needed to approach the updates without disrupting the brand’s iconic bottle design.

She and her husband, Rodney, opened Acquiesce Winery in 2012. After being inspired by the famed Chateauneuf-du-Pape wines on a visit to the Southern Rhone region of France, she decided to focus on white Rhone varietals. Their vineyard started with four acres of white Rhone grapes and, over the next eight years, they planted an additional 6.5 acres of white Rhone varietals with plans for another 5 acres next year. Today, the winery produces 4,000 cases/year.

Since opening, the winery has packaged its wine in a unique bowling pin-shaped flint glass bottle, with a deep punt. “While I loved the original eye-catching design, the unusual shape made the bottles somewhat challenging to display on market shelving and to store in standard wine racks,” Sue says. “That was one factor influencing the update decision.”

In early April 2019 Sue reached out to her glass supplier, Global Package, to explore these concerns. As the winery had grown in size, it now needed to find a practical solution to address the bottle’s balance, display, and storage issues, while retaining the unique, elegant bottle shape so identified with the brand.

The Tipton’s desire to lower the winery’s carbon footprint was another very important goal. “This was a huge motivator for us,” Sue adds. “Our vineyards are sustainable and we wanted to carry that ethic throughout our operations.”

To achieve these objectives, Sue called upon Global Package’s owner and CEO, Erica Harrop. She had worked with Harrop in 2011 when she purchased the original bottle. “Over the years we’d heard from winemakers, winery owners, and others that Erica was still the best in the business,” says Sue. “After we met to discuss the project in February 2019, I got the first drawing of the updated design the end of March.”

A custom mold drawing was created and Sue received a 3-D model of the bottle. It was a sleeker design, without a punt for better balance, but with the winery’s Lady Acquiesce logo embossed on the bottom. According to Sue, the meaning of the logo reinforces the winery’s focus on the environment  …”to acquiesce, or surrender to Mother Nature, to submit to the vineyard and the grapes so they are allowed to present their true character.”

The new streamlined glass bottles are significantly lighter weight, which saves the winery approximately 12,600 pounds per year in glass, or four ounces per bottle, without sacrificing the same 750ml of wine per bottle. In addition, cases are shipped in cartons that are 100% recyclable paper and pulp. All are measures that have substantially reduced the winery’s carbon footprint.

“We couldn’t have done it without Erica’s expert guidance,” Sue emphasizes. “Her knowledge, attention to detail and accessibility gave me confidence that we would meet all our goals and the glass would be ready in time for bottling the 2019 vintage. As in all significant projects with lots of moving pieces and multiple players, there were challenges, but Erica was diligent in addressing each one with the appropriate level of required urgency. We love the result and the feedback from our loyal customers confirms the success of the project. We will continue to partner with Global Package going forward.”

Acquiesce’s world-class white wines have recently captured industry honors: In 2020, the winery was awarded Best of Class for its Viognier at the invitation-only American Fine Wine Competition (AFWC). In 2019, it received Double Gold Medals for its Ingénue, Clairette Blanche, Grenache Blanc, and Picpoul Blanc wines.

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Acquiesce Winery is located in the Lodi Appellation of California, and offers award-winning premium white and rosé wines lovingly created in small batches. Vines are sourced from the famed Château de Beaucastel of Châteauneuf du Pape, France, exhibiting a timeless elegance that’s fused with great fruit expression, thanks to Lodi’s sandy soils and Mediterranean climate. Its unique wines are carefully crafted using the best Rhône varietals: Grenache Blanc, Picpoul Blanc, Roussanne, Viognier, Clairette Blanche, Bourboulenc, Belle Blanc (white blend) and Grenache Rosé.

A Huge Shout Out to Wineries!

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Napa, CA  May 27, 2020 — Erica Harrop, President and CEO of Global Package LLC, applauds all those wineries that are out there making decisions and moving forward in these challenging times. Their efforts will help the economy recover more quickly as businesses gradually reopen and regain their footing as the lifeblood of a healthy America.

All of us at Global Package support you and here to help in any way we can. All of us truly are interconnected and in this together!

 

Packaging That Makes a Difference

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Erica Harrop, Founder and CEO of Global Packaging LLC, recently learned that client, Adam Lee of Clarice Winery, received kudus not just for his high-scoring Pinots, but also for the wine’s bottles and labels. According to Good Vitis editor, Aaron Menenberg:

“The bottles and labels themselves received serious design consideration and effort as well. The labels are beautifully designed and executed, and are true pieces of art. And the bottles bear a Chateauneuf de Pape -inspired custom cartouche. Both myself and my wife thoroughly enjoyed the ascetics of the Clarice Wine Company labels and bottles.”

Global Packaging started working with Lee—familiarly known as the “Prince of Pinots”—last year before debuting his three new Pinots. Lee wanted packaging  that reflected the history of the wine’s namesake, his beloved grandmother, Clarice, as well as the winery’s close affinity with France’s famed Chateauneuf de Pape wines. He shared this:

“I knew generally the height and weight I wanted, so I contacted Erica, who presented several options and suggestions, including an etched cartouche to the bottle for added distinction. I initially thought the pricing and quantities required for a custom designed bottle would be prohibitive, but it turned out that the quantities required were quite reasonable and the pricing was really fair. It cost a bit more than a stock bottle, but given the bang for the buck, it was quite reasonable. With Erica’s help the finished product is both classy and classic. I was also pleased with how smoothly and quickly the whole process was.”

Lee’s choice of a screw cap for the wines was also unusual: “Some have been surprised by my choice of a screw cap on the package …it was not to save money. My many years in the industry as a Pinotphile have convinced me that screw tops are the best closure; they allow the right amount of oxygen in without TCA contamination.”

Wine writer Jeb Dunnuck scored all of Clarice’s 2018 Pinot Noirs with high marks: Garys’ Vineyard Pinot (97-94 Points); Rosella’s Vineyard Pinot (97 Points); and Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot (94 Points).

“It’s so gratifying to see Adam’s Pinots take off,” says Harrop. “He has a wonderful aesthetic and an inspired commitment to educating his community of members about every facet of winemaking and wines around the world.

Check out the Clarice website: www.claricewinecompany.com and become a member.”