Sparkling installation for Gusbourne Estate

As the only three-time winner of the IWSC English Wine Producer of the Year, Gusbourne’s wine producing team have exacting standards at every stage of the wine making process, and accordingly require the highest standards and best technology to ensure careful handling of the product during the delicate process of filling.

Gusbourne and Evolution BPS first partnered in 2022, when Evolution installed and commissioned a Robino & Galandrino Capsulator and a P.E. Labelling Machine. When producing a premium product, ensuring a premium finish to the bottle dressing is vital; as such, the expertise and credibility of Evolution and its partners in premium drinks sectors was an important element of the selection process for Gusbourne.

Specialising in all types of secondary sealing, R&G supplies many of the most important wine bottling facilities in the world. The R&G Capsulator installed at Gusbourne is predisposed for the orientation and prepleating of capsules, handling capsules for still and sparkling products and also combines a cork and/or wirehood presence detector.

The P.E. Labelling machine is equipped with three labelling stations for the self-adhesive application of neck label, partial or wrap around front/body label and back label.

Evolution’s UK-based team of engineers worked closely with Gusbourne to install and commission the machines, remaining lineside until the customer became confident with the technology, and beyond via the customer service team at Evolution.

This successful project ensured Evolution was considered when Gusbourne sought to expand its line with the inclusion of in-house filling technology.

Filling expertise from MBF

MBF specialises in filling premium and delicate products, minimising oxygen pick up during the filling process, ensuring the highest standards of product integrity are maintained. MBF understands how critical bottling is in the lifecycle of wine and its patented technology ensures that it is managed with competence and accuracy. MBF has a particular understanding of the importance of oxygen control being key to achieving the correct oenological and qualitative balance of the product.

Each wine has its own personality, therefore it is important it is treated with extreme care in all stages in order to maintain its quality and organoleptic characteristics. Precise attention must be given to the delicate stage of bottling which if mishandled can affect the integrity of the product due to excessive introduction of oxygen, thereby invalidating all previous interventions to minimise oxidation.

Extensive research by MBF has led to the development of a system for managing, measuring and controlling oxygen pick up. The methodology facilitates accurate determination of the increase of oxygen in the wines due to the filling phase, quantifying the performance of the filler.

Determining the optimal conditions for atmospheric inertisation inside the bottle before filling, relative to bottle size, reduces the contact of wine with oxygen. MBF has defined the optimal conditions for atmospheric inertisation inside the bottle before filling. The innovative system for inert gas injection creates perfect intertia of the head space of the bottle while avoiding loss of pressure. The MBF patented system facilitates minimum nitrogen consumption and optimal injection of inert gas in the bottle independent of bottling speed.

Crafting premium wines at Gusbourne

Since planting its first vines in 2004, Gusbourne has pursued a vision of crafting the finest vintage wines, using only grapes grown in its vineyards.

Gusbourne founder, Andrew Weeber, encapsulates the company’s dedication to excellence: “Making exceptional wine takes craftsmanship, respect for nature… And uncompromising attention to detail.” This reflects the winery’s commitment to producing outstanding products for its customers. It is in line with this vision that Gusbourne has decided to expand its production facility bringing the important stage of filling in house with the addition of a new MBF Synchrofill Monoblock machine, fully installed and commissioned by Evolution Bottling & Packaging Solutions Ltd’s UK-based engineering team.

Filling installation at Gusbourne

Evolution worked closely with the Gusbourne winery team to help them define their needs and to ensure that the solution provided was sufficiently future-proofed to meet the needs of the winery both now and moving forward. The technologically advanced Synchofill Monoblock incorporates rinser, filler, capper, corker and additional features facilitate bidule insertion, crown capper and vinoloc, meeting the requirements for traditional method sparkling, and still wines.

Operating at speeds of up to 4,500 bottles per hour, the advanced machinery supplied by Evolution ensures precise fill levels, optimal oxidation management, and superior cleaning processes, all designed to preserve product integrity with minimal maintenance.

Alastair Benham, head of wine operations at Gusbourne, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership: “This has been an exciting project to collaborate on with Evolution and MBF as Gusbourne continues its commitment to crafting premium English wines. A big thank you to everyone at Evolution, MBF, and Gusbourne for their hard work in bringing this project to life!”

Business development manager at Evolution, Dylan Bradshaw added : “Evolution are thrilled to have partnered with Gusbourne on this project and we look forward to continuing to work together, strengthening this successful collaboration in the future.”

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