Setting the pace on sustainability

The environmental record and initiatives of the world’s leading manufacturer of natural cork products, Amorim, have been highlighted in the company’s fifth Sustainability Report. The report focuses on the 2010 calendar year.

Amorim continues to set the pace in the cork industry on sustainability issues and is the only company in the sector that provides comprehensive details of its environmental credentials through an annual report.

The highlights in Amorim’s 2010 Sustainability Report include an increase in cork stopper recycling, broadening the reach of a forestry technical advisory service, building on the number of business units with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) accreditation, drawing heavily on renewable energy for cork production and promoting environmental awareness through education.

US sommeliers endorse cork

The Sommelier Society of America has endorsed natural cork as the preferred closure for wine. The oldest and foremost professional wine teaching institution in the US, the society was founded in 1954 and is based in New York.

“Natural cork plays such a distinctive role in the preservation and presentation of wine. It is an integral part of the romance of wine, and it remains the gold standard for wine closures,” said Robert Moody, the society’s chairman.

“It allows just the right amount of oxygen to mix with the wine over time so that it ages properly, and it provides a durable and reliable seal. The environmental advantage that natural cork has over alternative closures, especially when it comes to sustainability, is the icing on the cake.”

Simonsig claims third MCC Challenge

Stellenbosch producer Simonsig has claimed its third Amorim Cork Cap Classique Challenge in the 10 years that the competition has been held. The competition aims to identify South Africa’s best examples of Methode Cap Classique (MCC) wines.

Simonsig’s flagship Cuvée Royale 2005 claimed the ‘Best Overall’ award from a record 77 entries. Wines from Simonsig were also judged the overall winner in 2002 and 2009.

“Amorim is immensely proud to be associated with the critical and commercial acclaim these wines are gaining internationally, but also excited to have our closures associated with one of the fastest growing segments of the South African wine market,” said Amorim Cork South Africa managing director Joaquim Sa.

Corks may slow ageing process

Paulo Lopes, a leading oenologist and member of Amorim’s research and development team, believes natural corks may release phenolic compounds that can slow the ageing process and increase the health benefits of wine.

“Natural corks are rich in phenolic compounds and we are looking at whether they can migrate into the wine,” said Lopes at the Amorim sponsored Wine Faults Workshop at this year’s London International Wine Fair.

Research at the University of Oporto has found that cork dust has anti-oxidant and anti-cancer properties.

“With a whole cork we don’t know if these phenolic compounds are able to migrate and if they contribute in a positive way to the wine,” Lopes said.

Cork floor for Sagrada Família

Barcelona’s most significant landmark and most popular tourist attraction, the Sagrada Família cathedral, now features an Amorim cork floor.

Designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, the Sagrada Família, is an imposing Catholic church that commenced construction in 1882 and is expected to be finished in 2026, the centenary year of Gaudí’s death. A UNESCO World Heritage site, Sagrada Família was consecrated and proclaimed a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI in November 2010.

Visitors to the church’s crypt walk on a cork floor made by Amorim Revestimentos. Head architect Jordi Bonet i Armengol selected the Wicanders Corkcomfort product for its comfort, appearance and acoustic absorption qualities. The cork flooring covers an area of 2000 square metres.

More forestry advice

Amorim is continuing to support best practice in the management of cork oak forests and associated biodiversity by taking its funding of a free technical advisory service into a third year.

Developed as part of the European Business & Biodiversity Initiative, the program is directed at owners of cork forests in Portugal. It has covered 16,500 hectares to date largely through field visits and the preparation of technical reports to support sustainable forestry management.

The service, which is funded entirely by Amorim, often helps the forestry producer achieve FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification.

In related news, Amorim is again funding an award worth EUR 5000 that acknowledges forest owners using best practice in the sustainable management of cork forests.

Cork on the big screen

Among the many different uses of natural cork, one of the more unusual is the use of small cork particles in scenes in movies and television productions that require special effects.

Cork is often used as lightweight ‘flying debris’ in scenes where a building, car or some other object is exploding.

Hollywood based Special Effects Unlimited is a major player in the US film industry and in 2011 it has used cork as ‘flying debris’ in movies such as Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol starring Tom Cruise, Total Recall with Colin Farrell and Gangster Squad featuring Sean Penn.

Other productions in which the company has used cork this year include The Dark Knight Rises, Seven Psychopaths and Avengers as well as television shows Torchwood and Hawaii Five-0.

A royal seal

French winery Domaine Saint-Albert was honoured to supply the official wines for this year’s royal wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco to South African Charlene Wittstock.

The 15 hectare biodynamic vineyard in Provence supplied a 2007 vintage red blend, a 2010 white blend and a 2010 rosé. Each was presented in special-edition magnums decorated with a commemorative monogram.

Winemaker and owner Olivier Foucou said he was proud that Prince Albert had chosen Domaine Saint-Albert wines to celebrate the occasion. “I remember the joy we felt when we learned Prince Albert enjoyed our wines,” he said. “And given his concern for the environment he was pleasantly surprised that we are a biodynamic wine producer.”

In keeping with its focus on sustainability, Domaine Saint-Albert uses only natural cork wine seals and Amorim France is its long-standing supplier.