15.5 Packaging and Closures Flashcards
What is the most popular package and closure for wine?
Glass bottles finished with cork
What considerations are taken into account when choosing packaging and closures?
- its place in the market (intended for early sale and consumption or as a wine that potentially may have a long life ahead of it)
- the markets in which it will be sold
- oxygen management
What is the most important consideration when choose packaging and closures? Why?
- oxygen management
- the amount of oxygen in the final container will determine the shelf life and expected development of the wine
What will too much oxygen lead to?
- premature browning and oxidised characters (loss of fruit, development of off-flavours including bruised apple)
What will too little oxygen lead to?
- may lead to reductive characters (e.g. onion, rotten eggs)
What comprises the total package oxygen of a wine? What is the greatest contributer?
- the amount of dissolved oxygen in the wine
- the oxygen in the head space (below the cork or other closure) – usually the greatest contributor
- the amount of oxygen in the cork or other closure
- the oxygen transmission rate (OTR) of the cork or closure.
What are the 2 main alternatives to glass bottles? Where are these popular?
- producer markets (e.g. France) where inexpensive plastic (PVC) containers are used to collect wine from a local winery for short term storage and early drinking
- bag-in-box in some markets (50 per cent and more), such as the Swedish market.
What are the 5 main advantages of bottling in glass?
- made of inert material that conveys no taint to the wine, impermeable to oxygen
- delivered to wineries in a near sterile condition, having been shrink-wrapped when still hot
- inexpensive to manufacture, comes in a range of colours
- 100% recyclable (some colours are less easy to recycle)
- best option for the ageing of wine as it is impermeable to oxygen
What are the disadvantages of bottling in glass?
- high carbon footprint initially because of the heat needed to manufacture it
- heavy to transport, contributing to carbon footprint, especially if it is transported far
- fairly fragile
- rigid; once opened, subject to rapid oxidation
- clear bottles susceptible to light spoilage (light strike) producing sulfur-related off-aromas
What color bottles are the best to protect wines from light?
- Brown
- Green
What type of plastic is used for wine bottling?
- PET
- polyethylene terephthalate
What must be done if polyethylene terephthalate is used for wine bottling?
- must be lined with a barrier to oxygen if it is to be impermeable and therefore give a reasonable shelf life
- special filling equipment required as the PET bottles are inflated at filling
What are the benefits of polyethylene terephthalate (PET)?
- lightweight plastic (~1/8th the weight of glass)
- tough
- inexpensive
- recyclable
- range of sizes (standard bottle, single serve)
For what types of wines is polyethylene terephthalate well suited?
- wines with a limited shelf life
- wine made for quick consumption in informal settings (outdoor eating, travel) or on planes where breakage is a hazard
Describe bag-in-box packaging.
- consists of a cardboard box that houses a flexible bag inside
- bag usually made of a very thin aluminium foil (which acts as a barrier to oxygen) covered on both sides by a suitable plastic
- OR bag is made from a plastic that gives some protection from oxygen and is resistant to cracking
What are the 5 main advantages of bag-in-box packaging?
- flexible pour size (one or more glasses)
- good protection from oxygen after wine has been poured (the bag collapses inside the box)
- a range of sizes, 1.5–20 litres, suitable for home and commercial use
- easy to store
- low environmental impact (light to transport, can be recycled)
Why must bag-in-box packaging wine have a slightly higher SO2 level than in glass?
To counter oxidation
What must bag-in-box wine have to protect it?
- slightly higher SO2 level
- a low dissolved oxygen level
- no head space
- low carbon dioxide (avoid the bag bulging)
What is the shelf life of bag-in-box wine?
- 6–9 months depending on the quality of the manufacture
- the best may protect wine for up to a year
Where is bag-in-box wine popular?
- Australia, where it was pioneered
- Sweden
Describe ‘brick’ packaging. What name does this packaging go by?
- aka ‘Tetra Pak’
- made of paper card with plastic layers and an aluminium foil layer that excludes oxygen and light
- can be entirely filled with wine, thereby excluding oxygen
In what markets does brick packaging do well?
- does well at lower price points
- does well in markets where price is a major driver (e.g. Germany)
What are the costs associated with brick packaging?
- filling equipment is a big investment
- some producers outsource the filling of bricks
Describe ‘pouch’ packaging.
- similar to the bags inside bag-in-boxes
- available in larger (e.g. 1.5 litre) and single serve sizes
What are the advantages of ‘can’ packaging?
- light weight
- robust
- easy to open
- impermeable to oxygen
- recyclable