Committed to sustainability

Vicard was founded in 1925, and has remained an independent family business ever since, across six generations.  If this is not testament enough to the quality, expertise, and innovative spirit behind their oak barrels, then there is always the remarkable fact that the company produces an average of 35,000 barrels per year. It is noteworthy that 70% of Vicard’s barrels, tanks and casks are exported around the world from Cognac, France, where they are produced.

Vicard’s passion for their craft has led to a real connection with winemakers around the world. The company are keenly aware that the future of their tradition is ensured through their innovative spirit. In 1925, founder Paul Vicard was producing around ten barrels a day in his small workshop, today that number is more like one hundred barrels per day under Jean-Charles Vicard who is the driving force of technical innovations! The company is committed to sustainability, with the environmental impact of every decision being considered, including the origin of the wood, controlling the procurement, hygiene and traceability of raw materials and repurposing all ‘waste’ materials.

Easy to use

For over one hundred years, Terral has been producing products and equipment for winegrowers to use on their vineyards. The company is based in the heart of the Languedoc wine region in France, but their equipment is used in vineyards all around the country and the company also have their sights set on vineyards in the UK.

Whether you are in the market for a picker, vine-trunk cleaning motor, a pre-pruning or pruning machine, a trimmer, or another piece of vineyard equipment, Terral is just the ticket. The team work in-house, from R&D to design and production, which combined with excellent customer service makes them a firm favourite supplier for French vineyards, and they hope to replicate these relationships with UK winegrowers. Terral places a great emphasis on designing machines that are easy to use and equipped with the latest technology. 

Terral’s products are made in France with materials chosen for their durability and longevity. The company’s robust equipment is designed to be repairable for any resulting wear-and-tear over time, to ensure a sustainable approach to equipment manufacturing.

World’s first bio-sourced and biodegradable clips

Based in the Champagne region, Cavi Group specialise in designing and producing vine training tools that have contributed to some great vintages. The company is committed to making vineyards more sustainable places. We have Cavi Group to thank for the world’s first bio-sourced and biodegradable foliage vine clips, created in 2015: the Amidograf. Made of wheat and corn starch, this staple composts in-situ and is eaten by fungi and microorganisms leaving no negative environmental impact.

Last year Cavi group released Tutofi, stakes made from recycled & repurposed plastic and aluminium waste, which in turn are fully recyclable themselves. Tutofi stakes boast many advantages: they are resistant against UV, humidity, frost, and soil chemistry; they do not rot or rust; they are resistant to tillage tools; and can be attached to the binding wire. What is more, each stake is reusable and at the end of its life can be recycled by the same process that produced it.

High quality corks

Want to put a cork in it? Look no further than Oller,a global leader in the production of high-quality corks for sparkling wines. Based in Reims in the heart of the Champagne region, Oller’s corks are chosen by wineries across the globe. Given the exceptional quality of English sparkling it seems only right that they are now looking to expand in the UK.

Founded in 1892, Oller sources cork from a carefully selected group of growers in Spain to ensure the highest quality raw material for production. Cutting edge technology is used to produce a selection of corks to fit a range of needs, and Oller puts a huge emphasis on selection and quality control to ensure consistency and quality. Their exclusive Haloanisole Slow Extraction system (HSE) extracts and eliminates volatile compounds from the natural cork discs to minimise the risk of any aromas affecting the wine.

Wine on tap

You may well associate kegs with beer and cidr, but wine on tap is here, and it is here to stay! 

Flexikeg produces kegs that are useful not just for serving wine on tap, but also for storing and transporting wines. The team, based in France, design and manufacture kegs that make life easier for winemakers, and which also help vineyards to reduce their carbon footprints. 

When empty, the kegs are flat and foldable, making them easy to store and transport. They are also lightweight, reusable and recyclable, making them an eco-friendly solution for reducing your costs and your carbon-footprint. Flexikeg Kegs preserve wine stored in them from any external contact, even during dispensing, so it stays fresh for months on end. What is more, you can fill five kegs of 15 litres in less than three minutes, their “plug and drink” connection can fit into existing dispensing systems easily, emptying up to 99.5% of wine without any effort. 

Flexikeg are now looking to bring their kegs across the Channel to help British winegrowers optimise investments, operating costs and their ecological footprint.