Wine specialist South Wine Co. (SWC), Russia, is expanding its range of packaging and is now making its "Odyssey"-brand quality wines available on the Russian market in aseptic carton packs. The company has opted for the packaging and filling technology from SIG Combibloc, Switzerland: four of its own home-grown semi-dry wines are now offered in the combiblocSlimline 1,000 ml carton pack. The South Wine Co.'s wines have previously been available in glass bottles only.

"We decided to make our wines, which come exclusively from our own grape-growing areas on the Taman Peninsula, available in carton packs from SIG Combibloc," said Vyacheslav Merkulov, deputy managing director of the South Wine Co. "We are convinced that this packaging preserves the high quality of our wines and perfectly suits the convenience requirements of modern consumers."

At Krasnodar, immediately adjacent to the vineyards, the company installed a CFA 310 filling machine from SIG Combibloc to fill the combibloc Slimline carton packs. Krasnodar is on the Taman Peninsula, between the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea. Protected against severe frosts in the winter and enjoying a warm summer climate, the region benefits from its location, making it one of the most important wine-growing areas in Russia.

"For us it is very important that products are of high-quality and natural origin—and that relates to our wines and the packaging we use for our products," said Merkulov. "Especially young consumers have quite particular expectations when it comes to wine. They prefer high-quality, locally grown and produced wines in practical and safe packaging at a fair price. So aseptic carton packs are absolutely ideal. They score because they are lightweight and unbreakable."

Norman Gierow, head of Global Product Management Market at SIG Combibloc, noted that "we are observing that not only low-cost table wines but also good standard products and quality wines are increasingly being offered in aseptic carton packs. The four fully printable display surfaces on a carton pack can help change the image of wine in carton packs - they offer plenty of options for creative and attractive designs, which will draw attention to them on the wine shelf. At the same time, the logistical and handling advantages of carton packs create an ideal opportunity for wine producers and fillers to develop new distribution and marketing channels."