'Greener' plastic wine bottles gain favor
Source: Agencies |
June 29, 2011, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
WINE producers from New Zealand, the United States and even France are switching from glass to plastic wine bottles, saying they are lighter, good for the environment and not bad for the wine.
The PET, polyethylene terephthalate, bottles are 100 percent recyclable, unbreakable, lighter and smaller to transport than glass and take less energy to create.
"We see (plastic) as a positive step in terms of energy and production," said Michael Wentworth, of New Zealand's Yealands Estate. "It's 89 percent lighter than glass, so you're reducing your carbon footprint there, as well as anytime you ship it."
The plastic containers have not changed the taste of the wine Yealands said because its Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot, which have both been bottled in plastic, have done well in blind tasting wine competitions.
For Naked Winery in the western US state of Oregon, which has used PET bottles for more than a year, the containers suit its outdoor wine concept.
"I like to backpack and I like to take wine backpacking and this is perfect," said David Barringer, 52, a winemaker at Naked.
Both wineries use a 750 milliliter bottle, which Wentworth said looks smaller next to regular size bottles.
"The consumer may think that they're not getting the same amount of wine, so we clearly label ours 750ml," he said.
Despite the convenience of plastic bottles, the containers have faced an image problem with some consumers still preferring their wine in a glass bottle.
The Bordeaux-based Institute of Vine and Wine Sciences suggested white wine in plastic bottles stayed fresh for only six months.
Marc Kaufman of EnVino, which makes PET bottles, said plastic bottles are not meant for expensive wines.
The PET, polyethylene terephthalate, bottles are 100 percent recyclable, unbreakable, lighter and smaller to transport than glass and take less energy to create.
"We see (plastic) as a positive step in terms of energy and production," said Michael Wentworth, of New Zealand's Yealands Estate. "It's 89 percent lighter than glass, so you're reducing your carbon footprint there, as well as anytime you ship it."
The plastic containers have not changed the taste of the wine Yealands said because its Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot, which have both been bottled in plastic, have done well in blind tasting wine competitions.
For Naked Winery in the western US state of Oregon, which has used PET bottles for more than a year, the containers suit its outdoor wine concept.
"I like to backpack and I like to take wine backpacking and this is perfect," said David Barringer, 52, a winemaker at Naked.
Both wineries use a 750 milliliter bottle, which Wentworth said looks smaller next to regular size bottles.
"The consumer may think that they're not getting the same amount of wine, so we clearly label ours 750ml," he said.
Despite the convenience of plastic bottles, the containers have faced an image problem with some consumers still preferring their wine in a glass bottle.
The Bordeaux-based Institute of Vine and Wine Sciences suggested white wine in plastic bottles stayed fresh for only six months.
Marc Kaufman of EnVino, which makes PET bottles, said plastic bottles are not meant for expensive wines.
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