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Boisset to launch Beaujolais Nouveau in plastic bottles
August 14, 2008
Richard Woodard
French wine giant Boisset has announced that all Beaujolais Nouveau wines imported to the US this year will be shipped in plastic bottles.
The Burgundy producer said that the immediacy of the Beaujolais Nouveau launch, which happens every year in November, and the fact that the wine was airfreighted to countries such as the US, meant that PET or plastic bottles were a viable and environmentally-friendly alternative to glass.
'It is critical that we consider whether we should still ship thousands of cases of wine in heavy bottles via air throughout the world in order for the wines to arrive on time for their annual release date in November,' said Jean-Charles Boisset, president of Boisset Family Estates.
Boisset added that the company could 'reduce fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions by more than half' by using plastic bottles.
PET bottles, said Boisset, would reduce shipping weight by 42%, while PET packaging produces 50%-60% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than glass throughout its life cycle.
The company is also unveiling a locally sourced 'California Nouveau' wine, Fog Mountain, also in PET. It already sells its Mommesin Beaujolais Grande Reserve in aluminium bottles.
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 Very appropriate considering the contents. But, if you want to reduce the weight, why ship it in bottles at all? Why not bulk containers and bottle it (plastic or otherwise) at the other end?
Phil Styles, St.Gaudent, France
You can fit 22,000 ltrs in a bladder lined shipping container, much the same as a oversized wine cask. No wasted air filled porosity in transit just plug into a bottlig line at destination usually cheaper than French facilities. Wine belongs in glass not plastic!
Richard Butterworth, Kanga Wines
Boisset chooses to bottle the Beaujolais Nouveau at the source of production in order to better control the quality of the wine, specifically with Beaujolais Nouveau wines that are very sensitive and must be handled gently. Bottling at the source ensures the maximum quality control, and helps to ensure we capture the bright fruit flavors of Beaujolais Nouveau.
Additionally, we are this year releasing the first-ever California Nouveau wine in PET bottles – Fog Mountain – to ensure that people, specifically in the Western half of the US, can choose to “buy locally” or closer to the source of production for this traditional style of wine.
Patrick Egan, Boisset Family Estates, CA, USA
In response to Richard's comment “wine belongs in glass” why? Makes me nostalgic for the old days of the LP Vs CD debate.
I like to drink out of glass, but I couldn't give two-cahoots what it was delivered in if it was better for the planet and didn't taint the contents. Just one consideration though, PET 'creeps' and as such does require an oxygen scavenger to prevent rapid oxidation (this is seen through diminishing free sulphur levels) – is this being used? If not, the wine will quickly (within 6 months) lose freshness and deteriorate. With an Oxygen scavenger the wine can stay fresh for 18 months+ (however the sort of wines that these vessels are designed for should be consumed within that time period anyway).
Peter Nixon, Sydney, Australia
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