Wine Industry Report

RIVERCAP USA, a division of NEWPAK USA, known for its premium tin capsules is now also offering polylam capsules to the North American wine market.

The polylam capsules are made from a layered composite of aluminum foil, polyethylene and aluminum that gives them the look and feel of tin capsules.

While RIVERCAP USA polylam capsules may be new to the U.S. market, they’ve been popular with European wineries for several years. As demand for polylam capsules increases in the North American market, Rivercap USA made a strategic decision to offer this cost-competitive alternative in addition to premium tin capsules. “We feel that offering tin and polylam capsules is a value-added service for our customers,” said Jeremy Bell, general manager of RIVERCAP USA.

“In recent years, several surveys have shown that consumers prefer wines topped with capsules,” said Bell. “With the wine industry becoming more and more competitive, wineries are looking for ways to cut costs yet maintain the premium quality look of tin capsules that consumers prefer. The RIVERCAP polylam capsule can be the answer on both fronts.”

Today’s wine capsules evolved from a lead-based product coated in tin. The industry discontinued the use of lead-based capsules in the early 1990s largely because of their effect on the environment. Capsules today come in a variety of forms, with the majority being made from either tin or polylam.

RIVERCAP USA joined the Cork Supply Group in 2001 and is the exclusive distributor of capsules made by RIVERCAP, S.A., located in Spain. Although founded in 1990, the owner and president of RIVERCAP S.A. has been in the capsule business since the early 1970s and was instrumental in developing the latest technology for the production of top quality tin capsules.