Quality Product

The statement “All natural corks are about the same!” could not be further from the truth. Portugal and Spain comprise 80% of the world’s cork production. Over 1,000 producers harvest the great cork forests of Portugal and Spain. Of that number only about 100 harvest a significant portion of the forest. And, finally, of that 100 only about 5% or so of the producers have the twenty-first century capability of providing rigorous scientific analysis of the cork bark as it moves from the forest to the final product.

Alvaro Coelho & Irmãos, S.A. is the best of these companies.

Reasonable Pricing

By having control over the production of the natural cork product from the time the bark leaves the tree until it is delivered to the customer, ACI is able to use its economies of scale and management skills to provide the most reasonable cost for the excellent quality of its cork. It is a record that has been proven in all fifteen countries in which they do business.

Proven Track Record

The Coelho family has been in the natural cork business since 1970. Since 1995 they have been one of the premier suppliers of natural cork to the fine wine business. They are the leading supplier of natural cork to Portugal, Spain and France. They supply 80% of the natural cork to the South American continent (Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay). They supply 75% of the cork to the Hungarian and Bulgarian wine industries. By coming to the United States they are bringing their well-known reputation of quality and service to the world’s most dynamic wine market.

Service

Alvaro Coelho & Irmaos, S.A. sets the standard for service in fifteen countries throughout the world. In the short span of nine years they have taken substantial market share in each country they have entered by putting the customer first. Their service is legendary for anticipating challenges. As an example they ship their finished product in sealed temperature controlled containers to provide the best environment for maintaining the finest quality cork. It is more expensive to do this but they will not compromise on their quality. They truly partner with each and every winemaker to provide them with the finest in individual closure solutions.

Scientific Excellence

State-of-the-art technology is the hallmark of ACI’s commitment to producing the finest quality cork products. The company was founded with the principal that it would always use the latest technology with the goal of protecting the fine quality product that its customers produce. In the last five years they have spent millions of dollars in upgrading their already well respected production facilities and have invested more millions in research and development. Their strict quality program is designated “Innocuous System” and involves every step from the harvesting of the bark through the processing of the product to the final shipment of the completed corks.

Sustainable Agricultural Product

Of all of the closures in the fine wine business, only cork is a totally natural and sustainably raised product. It is harvested from trees that are at least twenty-nine years old and then harvested at a minimum of every nine years thereafter. The harvesting of the cork bark does not hurt the oak tree. The tree lives for 150 to 200 years. The harvest in Portugal is so important that the government requires farmers to replant all oak trees that are cut or die of sickness. This sustainability has the benefit of increasing the forest (Montado) in the Iberian Peninsula and therefore providing vital habitat for the last of the great cats of the Western European Continent (the Iberian lynx) as well as endangered birds (the Iberian Imperial eagle and the black stork). It is one of the last truly Mediterranean eco-systems that are preserved in near its original state.

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