By The Case For Wine, a certified “Good Food Fighter”

Franck Bourrières applies bubble tag to the first bottle of 2007 Chardonnay Icewine. Charlie Pilliterri in ballcap holds certificate and looks on.

Terry and I were in Niagara On the Lake for the weekend (Aug 20/21) where Pilliterri Estates winery,  was holding its Grape Jam.

Grape Jam was a two day event where you to could chow down on some local grub, sip some very local wine (PIlliteri’s own) and groove to some local rock bands.

But Grape Jam was also the Canadian debut of a technology designed to guarantee local authenticity on a global scale.

Over the past twenty five years, Canadian Icewine has gained recognition as a prestigious and sought-after luxury product around the world.  World demand has grown, and success comes with costs. Canadian Icewine is now one of the most counterfeited wines in the world.

Is imitation the sincerest form of flattery? Not, if you are the largest estate producer of Canadian Icewine for the world. And not, if you care about authenticity and quality.

Authenticity and quality:  Pilliterri is committed to both. Quality is demonstrated with their 2007 Chardonnay Icewine. It was cited as Canada’s best wine at this year’s VINEXPO, France’s biannual world wine fair held in Bordeaux.

Now, that wine carries a guarantee of authenticity as well. Between sets on the Grape Jam, bandstand, Pilliterri’s CEO and President of Sales, Charlie Pilliterri, and Franck Bourrières, Sales and Marketing Director of Prooftag, got up, to make an announcement, and apply a Prooftag bubble-tag, to a bottle of Pilliterri’s award winning 2007 Chardonnay Icewine.

Each bubble-tag contains a unique pattern and number which can be accessed from the web and on any smart phone to confirm authenticity.  Attach bubble-tag to the top of the cork capsule and the bottle becomes pilfer-proof. Remove the tag and the design and number are destroyed.

This bubble-tag technology features on some of Bordeaux and Burgundy’s most prestigious producers. Now a Canadian company joins those ranks. As Charlie Pilliterri put it,  “the bubble seal allows us to maintain our brand and family’s integrity around the world. Starting with our 2007 Chardonnay Icewine all our customers will know that they are receiving pure Canadian Icewine when they see this seal.”

At Grape Jam, we got to drink local and think global. It’s a small world after all.

Lloyd Evans, The Case For Wine