Howard-Sneyd MW joins CorkGuard

Justin Howard-Sneyd MW has become a director of CorkGuard, formerly Bacchus Wine Closures.

Originally called the Bacchus Barrier, CorkGuard is claimed to be a highly effective and economical solution for winemakers wishing to retain the benefits of natural cork without any of the downsides: when the membrane is applied to natural cork closures, it prevents TCA ingress, while still allowing and regulating oxygen transmission.

Company chairman André Oszmann says of Howard-Sneyd's appointment to the board: "We are delighted that someone of Justin's calibre has chosen to invest in and join our company at this exciting moment in our development. Justin is a very good fit for us, bringing with him an excellent reputation for quality and wide range of contacts with both winemakers and retailers. CorkGuard will be announcing some significant new developments in the closures market in the coming months, and we are really pleased to have brought Justin in to the team to help spread the message.”

Howard-Sneyd adds: "CorkGuard’s MD David Taylor has invented something unique that means that winemakers can be confident that drinkers can enjoy wines and spirits as they were intended to taste. I am hugely looking forward to being able to tell the world about it as we launch our new product range during 2014."

André Oszmann joined as chairman in January 2013 and Bacchus Wine Closures has since been re-financed through new equity and undergone a strategic review. All the current Board members are also investors in the business.

Howard-Sneyd owns an independent wine consultancy, The Hive Wine Consulting, working closely with clients like Direct Wines, (for whom he worked as global wine director until January 2013). Prior to this, Justin headed up the Waitrose wine buying team, and before this worked as a wine buyer at Sainsbury's and Safeway

David Taylor is the inventor of CorkGuard and founder of the business. He has worked in the wine closures industry for the last 15 years and has trialled closures technology with major wineries and cork producers around the world

8 January 2014 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor