It's possible...
Posted on 01/03/2006 9:53:52 AM PST by quantim
WINE lovers still coming to terms with plastic corks and screw caps will be in for a shock when the latest packaging revolution hits dining room tables later this month.
In an unusual departure for the home of fine wine, one of France's top producers is to replace traditional glass bottles with cardboard and plastic cartons normally associated with milk and fruit juice.
Burgundy-based producer Boisset says the controversial packaging will help preserve the quality of its wines as well as appeal to environmentally-conscious drinkers.
Boisset president Jean-Charles Boisset said: "We wanted to be innovative with quality, in a way that was good for the planet. We do everything we can to respect the soil and the vines, but it never went as far as the packaging.
"We want to take a serious approach to global warming. We decided to eliminate the cork, paper and glass, and look at a new format."
Traditionally more commercial, cheap wine has been sold in boxes but Boisset's departure is notable in that it will supply wine costing up to £10 a bottle including established varieties such as pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, merlot and chardonnay.
Lab analysis by Boisset shows that the Tetra Pak wine will keep fresh for three to four days in the fridge. The company says the eco-friendly containers use 90% less packaging than wine bottles and take up one third less space during transportation.
The cartons also provide 100% protection from ultra-violet light which can damage wine.
Philip Larue, the Scottish director of Friarwood fine wine merchants, said he didn't feel the British market was ready to ditch the wine bottle.
"Putting wine in any sort of box has a very bad image in the UK in terms of quality of wine," he said.
"Wine is all about romance and occasion. To some extent presentation is as important as the quality of the liquid that is in the bottle. Can you imagine if you have a guest coming to dinner and you serve them wine in a plastic carton?
I am not so sure it will be the next big thing."
Britain is fast becoming a nation of sophisticated wine drinkers. Research conducted by Vinexpo, the world's largest wine fair, predicts that by 2008 the UK will have matured into Europe's largest wine market, overtaking France, Germany and Italy. More people than ever are buying fine wines - typically, those that cost more that £8 a bottle and are worth laying down - but the annual cost to consumers and the industry of corked bottles is estimated at £340m.
It's possible...
The glut of world-wide wine is obviously low-end bulk grape juice. There is not enough quality wines being produced IMO around the world otherwise the prices wouldn't keep sky rocketing on the good labels.
Throw in some poplar wood chips, a few dead pine borers, and a handful of deer and rabbit turds to give it authenticity.
Once the RoP takes over France, the vines will come out of the ground there, too...Sharia Law says wine is a no-no.
"We want to take a serious approach to global warming. We decided to eliminate the cork, paper and glass, and look at a new format."
I would say that this has nothing to do with global warming. The only reason they are doing this is because paper and plastic are cheaper than glass and corks. More environmental hypocrisy.
"Wine is all about romance and occasion. To some extent presentation is as important as the quality of the liquid that is in the bottle. Can you imagine if you have a guest coming to dinner and you serve them wine in a plastic carton?"
Gee, and I thought wine was about the taste and quality.
Silly, you don't serve it in a "plastic carton", you get out your good crystal decanter, decant the wine in the kitchen and bring it out to your guests with your good Riedel varietal glasses, they'll be impressed.
I have another answer to the global wine surplus and glut. Lower the prices on a lot of the overpriced, pretentious plonk and watch the wine walk out of the stores.
Williams-Sonoma has on sale the coolest Riedel "O" series Bordeaux glasses for $10.
Personally, I prefer Zinfandel Port. Love to have a glass after dinner.
Somebody likes you. ;-)
The Montrachet version or chardonnay?
bingo. I love when the French spin.
The box says Chardonnay, but it is definitely the Montrachet round bowl. :o)
I bought two Riedel glasses the other day - beautiful - and was surprised that they sport the name: tempted to scratch it off. Extraordinarily thin bowl, 1/8" thick stems and an exquisite ring.
Iraq is a UN mess that the French alone with their declared Veto intention shoved into the arms of The US and have been snickering about it every time one of our Brave Soldiers gets killed in Iraq.
DEEP SHAME on any jerk buying and drinking French wine!
I would drink toilet water before I drink french wine just so I could brag to them about how much better it was!
Oh Man is that Mad Dog?? Reminds me of my long past mispent youth while in New Orleans. Me and buds were standing on Canal yelling throw me sumpin mista just like the rest while savoring a vintage MD 20 wrapped in obligatory paper sack. I think my IQ dropped severely as a result of that night. Much prefer wines with a cork these days.
I'll 2nd that! I've never had a bad wine from Australia.
That's all I need to know about the EU.
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