Cheers, Brazil!

This story, provided by Iggesund Paperboard, has only a paper-thin connection to tobacco, but it provides TR with an opportunity to show support for that great tobacco-producing nation, Brazil, as it kicks off the World Cup finals today.

Apparently, the Taittinger champagne house is supplying the official champagne for this year’s World Cup. The company has developed a limited-edition Brut Réserve NV and a gift carton especially for the competition.

“The gift carton is a version of the packaging that won Carton of the Year award in 2012 at the Europe-wide ProCarton/ECMA packaging awards,” said an Iggesund press note. “The winning carton was decorated with round holographic effects representing champagne bubbles. In the new World Cup version, these bubbles have been transformed into beautiful holographic footballs.

“The World Cup gift carton is made of Iggesund Paperboard’s Incada 235 g/m2 paperboard, and the conversion is by Le Sanglier, which specializes in gift cartons for champagne. The foil lamination is by API. Even the bottle is specially produced for the event, with the World Cup trophy depicted on a gold label.

“Taittinger is one of only a few champagne producers still being run by the family whose name is on the label. Their champagnes are characterized by a dominant note of chardonnay, which contributes to the elegance and sophistication.”

“It’s a momentous occasion for us to be associated with such a major event as the football World Cup,” said Clovis Taittinger, who is the company’s export director. “We’ve used the latest in both printing technology and 3D printing to create both the unique bottle and the carton.”

When the final is played at Maracanã Stadium on July 13, president, Pierre Emanuel Taittinger, will be present to ensure that, when the victors are crowned, the bubbles really flow.