About
Lafitte , Cork Group
Lafitte
s a long and fruitful history with the cork industry.
It all began over a century ago, in 1918, when the Lafitte family opened the first cork stopper manufacturing facility in southwestern France, a region rich in vineyards and wine-producing areas.
350.000.000
Corks produced each year
1.800.000.000
Capsules produced each year
11
Production facilities
+6000
Clients worldwide
Our history.
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![The first cork stopper manufacturing facility in Lafitte , located in Toulouse, in southwestern France]()
1918: Where it all begins.
The first cork stopper manufacturing facility— Lafitte —was established in the southwest of France, in Toulouse. After 1918, this same facility became home to Coliege Metalco Emballages, a capsule factory, marking the beginning Lafitte’s long expansion, which continues to this day.
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![An aerial photograph of the cork oak forests in Alentejo]()
1956: Portugal’s Montado.
Driven by a constant desire to evolve, Lafitte established a manufacturing facility in Portugal—home to the Montado and the world’s largest exporter of cork. This enabled Lafitte to more efficiently manage the high-quality raw material used in its stoppers: Portuguese cork.
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![Lafitte 's Cork and Capsule facilities in Napa, California]()
1982: (Re)born in the USA.
To meet the needs of the North American market, Jacques and Jean François Lafitte crossed the ocean and opened Lafitte Cork and Capsule in the renowned wine region of Napa, California.
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![The facilities at Lafitte Cork, Chile]()
2001: Moving South.
Later, in order to supply the South American market, Jean François Lafitte set up a new distribution facility in Santiago, thereby establishing Lafitte Chile.
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![An example of the capsules sold by Lafitte in Chile]()
2009: Leading the way.
Initially focused solely on cork stoppers, Lafitte Chile listened to its customers’ requests and began producing capsules. Over the years, it has grown to become the leader in the South American capsule market.
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![A single molding machine, used in the production of microagglomerated cork stoppers]()
2012: Getting technical.
Jean François Lafitte and François-Marie Lafitte invested in the production of molded micro-agglomerated corks in Portugal. Although we entered the micro-agglomerated market a bit late, our passion and innovation allowed us to quickly compete with the strongest players in the market.
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![A set of five natural cork stoppers, treated with PerfectGO]()
2016: It's all about perfection.
Our commitment to preserving wine in perfect condition led to the creation of PerfectGO: a system for the individual analysis of undetectable levels of non- TCA s in cork stoppers.
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![A cork stopper designed for sparkling wine]()
2020: Joining the sparkling party.
In 2020, Lafitte acquired Mundial Cork, a brand specializing in sparkling wine corks with many years of experience. With the addition of Mundial Cork, Lafitte also acquired the company’s deep expertise in the product and how to make it excel.
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![Set of natural cork stoppers in the foreground with blurred, sorted cork stoppers in the background]()
Five generations, and counting.
Five generations later, the Lafitte family continues to serve the wine industry by producing cork stoppers of unparalleled quality. We intend to continue evolving through research, innovation, and the vertical integration of our production process.
High-quality cork stoppers.
Lafitte Group works in seamless synergy to optimize research and development processes and enhance industrial expertise in order to offer exceptional services and products.
This is evidenced by the numerous technological advances made over the years to ensure our clients receive high-quality cork stoppers that are free of TCA and unwanted aromas, yet retain all the benefits of a classic cork stopper.
Like a fine wine, the history of Lafitte Group improves with time. As stewards of a family-run entrepreneurial venture, we continue to evolve by pushing the boundaries of quality and innovation.
We combine the impeccable qualities of natural cork with innovative production methods to create products of exceptional quality that meet exacting standards. The physical properties of natural cork make it a unique partner in the aging and evolution of wine. These same properties reduce the risk of oxidation while preserving the wine’s aromatic identity.
As a pioneer in the wine closure industry, the Lafitte Group places research and development of innovative solutions at the heart of our business. We achieve this through ongoing efforts to harness the best that cork has to offer. PerfectGO, a major innovation developed by the group, analyzes and selects neutral cork to ensure a perfect tasting experience.
“
As the Discreet Guardian of Wine, the cork should fulfill its mission without fail.
—
Jean-François Lafitte
Lafitte
’s values.
Mission
Adding value to cork, a natural product of excellence, guaranteeing quality and exceeding expectations in a sustainable, competitive, and innovative way.
Vision
Over the next decade, Lafitte aims to be: a preferred partner in the world’s major wine markets; a leader in the quality of products supplied to all markets.
We are committed to honoring and protecting nature.
Dedicated service.
Always committed to our customers and their success, we strive to be the global leader in the wine industry. By combining true expertise in cork and capsule production, Lafitte Group continues to raise the bar for wine and spirits packaging. Ultimately, we owe our success to the thousands of strong relationships—built on trust—that we have forged with each of our clients around the world. Lafitte Group is positioned as a partner in their success, and we remain dedicated to supporting their ambitions.
Today, we bring together the best international expertise in our two product categories: the production of cork closures and the printing and forming of capsules for wine, spirits, olive oil, and vinegar. Lafitte Group manufactures a wide range of products and solutions for our customers, and we pride ourselves on maintaining the same level of precision and quality throughout the design and manufacturing process.
Lafitte Bartop.
Lafitte Bartop is a premium line of bar-top closures designed for luxury spirits, oils, and vinegar.
