Last year’s pilot project started with Stratus Vineyards in Niagara-on-the-Lake, but has expanded, adding King’s Court, Leaning Post, Malivoire and Two Sisters.curtoicurto/iStockPhoto / Getty Images
A project to reuse wine bottles has gained momentum as five Niagara wineries unveil new releases in refilled containers. The vintners are working with Circulr, a Kitchener-Waterloo company, which is gradually working towards establishing a province-wide wine bottle reuse program like industry-standard bottle model used by breweries.
“This isn’t just about the environment. It’s about making a system that invests in the long-term economic stability of the Canadian wine industry,” says Tyler De Souza, Circulr’s co-founder and chief operating officer.
Following last year’s pilot project with Stratus Vineyards in Niagara-on-the-Lake, De Souza expanded the network, adding King’s Court, Leaning Post, Malivoire and Two Sisters, which will release small batch wines ranging from 40 to 220 cases in reused bottles. The next phase hopes to purchase standardized refillable bottles later this year to allow wineries to increase production.
De Souza continues to meet with stakeholders, including the LCBO, Ontario Craft Wineries and Wine Growers Ontario, to share the vision and economic case. Like most of the wine trade, local wineries buy bottles from China and Europe. “All that money is flowing out of Canada,” he says.
Group shot of wines in refilled bottles.Circulr
The long-term goal is to manufacture standardized bottles in Canada and have a washing facility in St. Catharines, close to the greatest concentration of Niagara wineries, to limit transportation and keep costs in check for greater sustainability. De Souza says 70 per cent of wine is bottled in either a burgundy (sloping shoulder) or bordeaux (high pronounced shoulder) bottle.
The current proposal is to offer screwcap versions of both formats, in popular flint and antique green colours, to give participating wineries desirable options. The bottles will be clearly identified as reusable glass to help them be returned for washing and redistribution.
“As much as you can get interest by going player to player, working individually, the real change only comes on the consortium level to make sure the effects are wider reaching and longer lasting,” he says.
Malivoire winemaker Elisa Mazzi explains working with Circulr helps the winery close its circle of sustainability. The Beamsville-based winery, which embraced an eco-centric approach since its start in 1996, includes a ladybug as part of label design and marketing to draw attention to its commitment to the environmentally sustainable practices.
“We were excited to find an affordable solution and one that makes a positive change in our small portion of the world,” she says.
Elisa Mazzi, Malivoire winemaker, is excited to work with Circulr to close the winery’s sustainability circle with a more environmentally friendly way to bottle Malivoire’s Niagara made wines.Supplied
Malivoire put 100 cases of bottles through the Circulr’s cleaning process, which will be filled with the latest vintage of its Mottiar vineyard chardonnay in late summer. Other bottlings, such as Leaning Post Senchuk Chardonnay 2022 and Stratus Cabernet Franc 2022, will be available in summer.
