On March 21and 22 the 15^th annual Finger Lakes International Wine Competition hosted 72 judges from around the world who evaluated 3,700 wines. New this year is a Packaging Award category created by Waterloo Container. The packaging supply distributer sponsored the event for the first time in 2015 as part of their ever-growing presence in the Finger Lakes Region.

 Held at the Rochester Plaza Hotel & Conference Center, the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition is theworld’s largest charitable wine competition, benefiting Camp Good Days. Waterloo Container is the largest distributor of packaging supplies to the wine industry on the East Coast. Waterloo decided to become a sponsor of the competition as many of their customers are located in the Finger Lakes and participate in the competition each year.

 “Getting involved just made sense,” comments Bill Lutz, president of Waterloo Container. “This competition is huge for the Finger Lakes Region and it gives us the chance to reach key influencers in the international wine and craft beverage industry. We have also been able to educate people on new packaging technology. With this sponsorship, we are accomplishing our goal to educate within and provide support to this industry.”

 The new Packaging Award was judged at the end of the day on Sunday, March 22. To be eligible for the award, packaging must have been manufactured in the U.S. or Canada. Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing Togo DeBellis, of Waterloo Container, assembled a team of judges that included marketing professionals, packaging manufacturers and Waterloo Container employees.  Judging was based on innovation and package design, including container, label, closure and shelf impact. The award was given to two wineries in seven of the competition categories: Merlot, Riesling, Cabernet, Ice Wine, Cab Franc, Fruit Wine and Chardonnay.

 Winners of the Packaging Award:

Category: Merlot

Double Gold: Romeo Vineyards & Cellars, Sempre Vive Sauvignon Blanc

Gold: Pollak Vineyards, Merlot

 Category: Riesling

Double Gold: Colloca Estate Winery, Riesling

Gold: Wagner Vineyards, Semi Dry Riesling

 Category: Cabernet

Double Gold: Los Pinos Ranch Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon

Gold: Wallis Family Estate, Little Sister Cabernet Sauvignon

 Category: Ice Wine

Double Gold: Johnson Estate Winery, Vidal Ice Wine

Gold: Idol Ridge Winery, Vidal Blanc Ice Wine

 Category: Cab Franc

Double Gold: Atwater Estate Vineyards, Cabernet Franc - North Block Six

Gold:  Ventosa Vineyards, Cabernet Franc

Category: Fruit Wine

Double Gold: Domaine Labranche, Maple Wine Labranche

Gold: 21 Brix Winery, Raspberry

 Category: Chardonnay

Double Gold: Oliver Winery, Vine Series Chardonnay

Gold: Pollak Vineyards, Chardonnay

 On March 23, following the competition, 66 judges from around the world stayed to visit award-winning Finger Lakes wineries. Waterloo Container hosted the judges over a lunch stop. The lunch and learn event featured three of the top beverage packaging manufacturers in the U.S. speaking on new packaging innovations. Lunch also included a tour of Waterloo Container's warehouse and automated repack line.

 Speakers:

Ted Ramsey, Amcor Stelvin, presented on oxidation and success rates of screw top closures, including a new screw top closure for sparkling wines.

Walter Schaefer, Ardagh, showed prototypes of new wine bottles including bottles with pour spout finishes, hex-shaped stackable bottles and the emerging technology of 3D printed glass bottles.

Wes Ward, Nomacorc, spoke on their newest product. Select® Bio cork, the first zero-carbon footprint cork is made from sugar cane.

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About Waterloo Container:

Located in Waterloo, NY, Waterloo Container has been family-owned and operated since 1980. It is the east coast’s largest stocking distributor of packaging supplies to the wine industry. Waterloo is committed to stocking only the best brands in their 250,000 square feet of warehouses. Their unique services include stocking bottles, corks, capsules, wax, boxes and other packaging materials used in the wine and craft beverage industry. Inventory is constantly updated according to customer feedback and emerging trends and innovations.

For more information, visit www.waterloocontainer.com.