Closures - partnering up with wine through the dance of maturation

Calangianus is more than just a town in Sardinia, it is also the home to the cork plantations harvested for many years, providing endless wineries and alcoholic beverage producers with the ideal closure for there product. Gianus International, the mother company to the local Gianus SA, has been producing cork for generations.
 
Gianus International have the ability to produce 200 000 000 corks per year. In partnership with Sugherificio Piemontese they provide markets in France, Portugal, Germany, Croatia, Slovenia, Romania, Hungary, Moldavia, Greece, Argentina, Brazil, New Zealand, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Israel and South Africa (Gianus SA) with a variety of closures.

Gianus SA has been involved in the wine industry for the past five years. After a certain amount of shuffles in the company we are proud to say that we are honored to be part of the South African wine industry and carry the industry's well being at heart.

The cork vs. screw cap debate is probably in the country's top ten of controversial discussions over the last couple of years. Yet there has been no conclusion except for that the kind of closure chosen should complement the wine and assist it in the ageing process.

At the end of 2008 I believe that it is evident that there is room for both screw caps as well as natural corks in the industry. While a screw cap could be perfect to close a young, fresh white wine intended for early drinking, a cork assists a full bodied red to mature to full potential.

Besides being centre stage in the classic scene of opening a perfectly matured wine after years of anticipation, this closure is also well known for being environmentally approved. Besides providing work to many in the Mediterranean areas, these plantations are also relieving the atmosphere from a tremendous amount of CO2. In the day and age of reducing carbon footprints, using cork as a closure can be a means to an end. This fits in perfectly with the beautiful trend of biodiversity, so much taken to heart by many wine estates. It means being productive and profitable in the industry, but also saving the environment and preserving it for the future generations.

The cork industry has been going through a rough patch the last couple of years, which must be seen as a hands-on learning initiative. Through the last couple of years TCA testing has improved and stricter quality control has been adhered to. The end result is a better controlled final product that can be used with trust and peace of mind.

We are very proud of our natural corks, harvested in the cork plantations of Sardinia, tested overseas as well as in local labs and fire-branded locally. These corks which are denser by nature and therefore more visually appealing are being used to seal and preserve some of our well-known local brands.

Gianus SA is looking forward to a promising 2009 and building better and stronger relationships within the South African wine industry.

We are wishing all our clients and future clients a blessed festive season and a prosperous 2009.

Our office will be closed from 19 December but we will be back on Monday, 5 January, for all the pre-harvest bottling.