Winery's new bottling line adds flexibility

Broadland Wineries has installed a new flexible bottling line from Borelli, Italy, as part of an ongoing programme of investment in the quality and fabric of its Cawston winery.

The new line can deliver 18.7cl, 25cl, 37.5cl, 50cl, 1 litre and 1.5 litre bottles in glass and PET formats and is so flexible that it can manage much smaller batch sizes, which offers a distinct competitive advantage for its customers in that bulk wine tankers can be split into multiple formats and minimize stock-holdings and risks. While most UK bottlers are pushing for larger batch size bottling runs, Broadlands’ Nicola Patterson says the company is championing smaller batches, “always putting the customer first and meeting their needs; cutting their stock holding, financial burden and ultimately delivering fresher wines.

The new line is also able to seal a bottle with a fully recyclable Novatwist cap, and Broadland Wineries is understood to be the first in the UK to offer the Novatwist option.

“The initial focus of the new line is 18.7cl bottles (also known as 187ml single serves),” she says. “This size format is currently growing faster in volume than its 75cl equivalent, offering consumers a lower price risk when purchasing and being ideal for those wishing to try something new or simply enjoy a glass of wine without having to open a full size bottle. They’re also ideal for picnics, BBQs or any outside events. The smaller batch size means that customers will be able to order in 2,000 litre batches.”

Mark Lansley, CEO, Broadland Wineries concludes; “We were delighted to welcome our local MP Keith Simpson to the winery to officially open our new bottling line. It represents a significant investment in Broadland’s infrastructure and is a major commitment by our company to meet the changing needs of our customers.”

28 April 2014 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor