waterloo &mdash new this year for the 15th annual finger lakes international wine competition is a packaging award category created by waterloo container.the packaging supply distributer is a firsttime sponsor of the event, which hosted 72 judges from around the world evaluating 3,700 wines.waterloo container is the largest distributor of packaging supplies to the wine industry on the east coast.to be eligible for the award, packaging must have been manufactured in the u.s. or canada. executive vice president of sales & marketing togo debellis, of waterloo container, assembled a team of judges that included marketing professionals, packaging manufacturers and waterloo container employees. judging was based on innovation and package design, including container, label, closure and shelf impact. the award was given to two wineries in seven of the competition categories merlot, riesling, cabernet, ice wine, cab franc, fruit wine and chardonnay.finger lakes winners of the packaging award includedriesling colloca estate winery, riesling, double gold and wagner vineyards, semi dry riesling, gold.ice wine idol ridge winery, vidal blanc ice wine, gold.cab franc atwater estate vineyards, cabernet franc north block six, dobule gold and ventosa vineyards, cabernet franc, gold.on march 23, following the competition, 66 judges from around the world stayed to visit awardwinning finger lakes wineries. waterloo container hosted the judges over a lunch stop. the lunch and learn event featured three of the top beverage packaging manufacturers in the u.s. speaking on new packaging innovations. lunch also included a tour of waterloo container&rsquos warehouse and automated repack line.speakers included&mdash ted ramsey, amcor stelvin, who presented on oxidation and success rates of screw top closures, including a new screw top closure for sparkling wines.&mdash walter schaefer, ardagh, who showed prototypes of new wine bottles including bottles with pour spout finishes, hexshaped stackable bottles and the emerging technology of 3d printed glass bottles.&mdash wes ward, nomacorc, who spoke on their newest product. select bio cork, the first zerocarbon footprint cork is made from sugar cane. 
