Justin Knock joins Cobevco

Justin Knock MW, has joined bottling specialist Cobevco as winemaking consultant

Winemaker Justin Knock MW is to advise Cobevco’s technical and product teams on the development of packaging solutions for global customers and communicate the latest technology developments in bulk shipping and in-market production.  

Having produced wine across Australia in the Hunter Valley, McLaren Vale, Yarra Valley and Margaret River, as well as in France and Spain – and with degrees in food science and industrial chemistry – Justin has a deep understanding of the winemaking process backed by practical industry experience.

While working for Southcorp Group in Australia he undertook research on brettanomyces, micro-oxygenation and yeast nutrition. For several years he was the group’s European-based winemaker and delivered technical and educational training across Europe and the Middle East. Justin launched his own boutique wine brand in 2008, drawing on the knowledge gained throughout his 15 year career. More recently he has worked with importers in Scandinavia to develop international industry relations with producers from Australia, New Zealand, the US and Chile.

Speaking on his new role, Justin said: “Over the course of my career the wine market has become increasingly globalised and consumers have more choice in terms of country of origin than ever before. With excellent wine now made all over the world, producing a quality beverage is just one part of building a successful brand. Discerning customers are increasingly interested in a winery’s environmental, ethical and social credentials, and will support brands with strong policies and good track records in these areas.

“On the supply side, I’ve noticed a growing number of producers turn to specialist bottlers like Cobevco to help them reduce their carbon footprint, improve the responsiveness of their supply chain and smooth out consistency in wine quality for fast moving products. Cobevco is a world class and innovative co-packing operation, so I’m excited about working with them to develop their already excellent offering. I’m also looking forward to being part of Cobevco’s ambitious growth plans for 2013 as it adds new capabilities and packaging formats to its suite of services.”

Adrian Curry, managing director at Cobevco, commented: “The decision to appoint an official winemaking consultant is a logical step and forms a key part of our strategic growth plan. The knowledge and experience that Justin will bring are second to none, and will perfectly complement the expertise of our already world class team. With Justin on board, Cobevco has become one of the most highly qualified specialist bottlers in the world.”

About Cobevco
Cobevco is a market leader in specialist bottling. Bottling wine, beer, cider, spirits and soft drinks at its purpose-built plant in the UK. The company works with producers, importers and merchants from all over the world. The automated bottling plant is a state-of-the-art ‘one-stop-shop’ for beverage filling, bottling over four million litres of bulk imported wine, beer, cider, soft drinks and spirits every week.

7 December 2012 - Felicity Murray