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In a recent interview with Remus Deleanu, CEO of Cotnari Wines, we give you a glimpse into the rich history and future perspectives of one of Romania's most esteemed wineries.

The first references to Cotnari vineyards date back to the 18th century. Since then, Cotnari has become a symbol of excellence in the wine industry, known for its unique terroir.

Founded in the heart of the Cotnari region in 1948, Cotnari Wines has been able to capitalise on the unique characteristics of its terroir to produce internationally acclaimed wines of excellent quality. Its dedication to preserving traditional winemaking techniques, while incorporating the latest technologies, has enabled it to affirm its leading position.

Join us and find out a little more about Cotnari Wines and its long-standing relationship with Amorim Cork.

1. Tell us a little about Cotnari’s relationship with Amorim? How many years have you been working with the brand?

For Cotnari, Amorim represents one of the oldest and most valuable partners. The collaboration with Amorim started in the beginning of the 90’s Since then, Amorim has provided high quality cork solutions for wine bottling.

2. What factors lead you to choose Amorim Cork stoppers?

As we mentioned before, the quality of the products is important. Amorim Cork is one of the leading cork stopper manufacturers in the world, known for their high-quality products and innovative solutions in the cork industry.
The priority for research and development that Amorim cork has, the leading technologies and investments that the company made over the years, are the main aspects that we had into consideration, when collaborating with Amorim. Amorim Cork invests heavily in research and development to introduce new technologies and solutions in cork production, like NDTECH, NATURITY and XPÜR.
Also, we, in Cotnari, think that the good things are made with good and professional people. Therefore, it is important to have a good collaboration with the persons that represent the companies. Mr. Antonio Valente is a true professional that provided, along the years, a trustful collaboration.

3. How do you perceive the advantages of cork stoppers overalternative products?

Cork is a unique material with natural elasticity. This allows it to form a tight seal in the neck of the bottle. Also, the elasticity helps in preserving the quality and freshness of the wine over time.
More than that, cork stoppers have a long-standing tradition in the wine industry and are often associated with quality and prestige. We think that many of the consumers perceive the cork-closed bottles as being higher quality, compared to other closure options.

4. What aspects do you value most when choosing a stopper for your wines?

The reputation of the company that we work with is important, because it guarantees the quality of the product. Amorim Cork has established a strong reputation in the cork industry, for providing top-quality products and excellent customer service.
It is a family business that reached already the fourth generation and developed continuously. Their long history and expertise make them a trusted choice for many winemakers in the world, from still to sparkling wine, but also for spirits producers.
Amorim Cork offers a large variety of customization options, allowing Cotnari to choose stoppers that fit their specific needs and branding requirements.

5. In what ways do you think cork stoppers can enhance your wines?

There are many advantages when using a cork stopper, but I will try to underline a few. Cork stoppers allow a small amount of oxygen to interact with the wine, helping the aging process and contributing to the wine's complexity and development of desirable flavors.
Cork has natural elasticity, which helps it create a secure seal in the neck of the bottle, preventing excess oxygen exposure and potential leakage. Therefore, sealing quality of the cork is important.
Taking into consideration that Cotnari is also well known for its vinoteque wines, cork stoppers are always preferred by us, for wines meant to be aged, as they allow the gradual and consistent aging processes.

6. How does using cork stoppers align with your sustainability goals or values?

When we talk about sustainability, we have to underline first the fact that Cork is a natural and renewable resource, harvested from the bark of cork oak trees without harming the tree itself.
This makes cork stoppers an environmentally friendly choice. Amorim Cork is dedicated to sustainability and environmental responsibility. They prioritize sustainable forestry practices and invest in eco-friendly initiatives throughout their production processes.
For example, regarding the Amorim – Cotnari collaboration, in 2023, our use of cork stoppers has sequestered nearly 4,400 tonnes of CO2. This is equivalent to removing approximately 950 passenger cars from the road for a year, significantly contributing to our sustainability goals.

7. What did you think of the visit to Portugal and the supply chain behind cork stoppers? What surprised you the most?

Throughout the approximately 30 years of collaboration, Cotnari's management team has been invited to visit Amorim many times, in order to better understand the company's philosophy and the principles on which it is based.
Every time, we were pleasantly surprised to see a perpetual and dynamic development, to see that they invest large amounts of money in research and sustainability.
The acquisition of new forests of cork oak trees, vertical integration and ensuring the company's independence upon resources, from the raw material to the final product, are the advantages that will help Amorim assure the success for the future.