NEW YORK, June 15, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/
-- According to recent research commissioned on behalf of The
Portuguese Cork Association (APCOR), cork closures continue to be
the market leader for the premium wine market in the US,
highlighted by significant growth in both sales and market share
over the past decade. Between 2010 and 2020, case sales of cork
finished wines among the top 100 premium brands increased 97
percent, compared to 6 percent for alternative closures, according
to Nielsen. During the last ten years, market share of premium cork
finished wines jumped from 47 percent to 67.6 percent.
The latest Nielsen yearly data of the Top 100 Premium Brands
from the period ending December 26,
2020, showed that US wine consumers held a strong preference
for natural cork when it came to buying premium domestic wines
(defined as wine priced at $6 or more
per bottle), with the median price of cork finished wines sitting
$3.48 higher than those finished with
alternative closures (an advantage of roughly 32 percent). By the
end of 2020, the Top 100 Premium Brands sold in the US included
nearly 72 percent sealed with cork. Cork finished wines led
alternatives in every price category, particularly in wines that
were priced above $10 per bottle,
with cork used by 90 percent of domestic wines over $20.
As a renewable and natural product, cork is harvested without
damaging or cutting down the trees, which live for 200 years or
longer. During its lifetime a cork oak tree can absorb 20 tons of
CO2 from the atmosphere while producing up to 65,000 corks. Through
sustainable harvesting, the cork industry is helping to fight
climate change by preserving Europe's largest oak forests from
deforestation, while also providing high-paying jobs for
agricultural farmers.
"Given the incredible natural properties of cork, it makes sense
that the majority of the premium wines in the United States are sealed with cork," says
Carlos de Jesus, Operational
Director of the InterCork program of APCOR. "Its lightness,
elasticity, carbon sequestration, and ability to provide consistent
oxygen transfer to help with the aging process, are all part of
cork's unique combination of characteristics that make it unlike
any other material on the market."
For nearly two decades, APCOR has been at the forefront of
promotional efforts advocating on behalf of natural cork closures
and the use of cork in everyday products. It is the cork industry,
through its products, that makes the cork oak ecosystem viable,
contributing to the maintenance of forests and the populations that
depend on them.
For more information about APCOR, visit http://www.apcor.pt and
http://www.100percentcork.org. You can follow APCOR on Facebook,
Twitter and Instagram. For questions about APCOR, please contact
Paul Yanon or Augustus Weed.
About APCOR
Associação Portuguesa da Cortiça (APCOR) exists to promote natural
cork and its products. APCOR is the employers' association of the
cork sector that represents, promotes and carries out research in
the Portuguese cork industry. It was created in 1956 and is based
in Santa Maria de Lamas, in the council of Santa Maria da Feira, at
the heart of the cork industry around 30 kilometers from
Porto, Portugal's second largest
city. Membership of the association is open to all companies
operating in the fields of production, marketing or export of cork
products. The organization advocates on behalf of the Portuguese
cork industry worldwide and is the driving force of an industry
based on tradition, innovation and sustainability.
About Colangelo & Partners
Colangelo & Partners (http://www.colangelopr.com) is the
leading fine wine and spirits integrated communications agency in
the United States, sought after by
top brands and industry players for the quality of their results,
creativity, and return on investment. The professionals at
Colangelo & Partners work with integrity and passion to
influence how US audiences perceive their clients: Earning
consistent, high-quality positive media coverage; organizing
signature events; strategizing and executing standout digital
campaigns; and implementing trade programs that strengthen
relationships within the industry. Colangelo & Partners'
clientele includes global, instantly-recognizable brands and
passionate, up-and-coming vignerons and distillers; regional and
national institutions; and technology and e-commerce companies
innovating in the beverage alcohol sector.
Media Contact
Paul Yanon, Colangelo & Partners, (646) 624-2885,
pyanon@colangelopr.com
Augustus Weed, Colangelo &
Partners, (646) 624-2885, aweed@colangelopr.com
SOURCE APCOR