Packaging

Technical corks are corks that are manufactured to ensure the absence of TCA. They are made with different levels of permeability, pending on what rate of oxygen would be appropriate for the style of wine being made. Basic agglomerated cork, which is just cork granules glued together, is an option for inexpensive wines made for youthful consumption. One-plus-one corks utilize inexpensive agglomerated cork for the largest central section and then is finished with a disc of natural cork on either end. A brand of technical cork that has been embraced by more premium producers is called Diam. Diam looks and behaves like a natural cork, it is made from recomposed cork particles that have been cleaned and reconstituted with a plastic.

What is a technical cork?

This packaging format is similar to Bag-in-box and comes in larger sizes like 1.5 liters and also single serving size.

What is a wine pouch?

Brick packaging, which is frequently referred to as "Tetra Pak" after the leading manufacturer is a paper carton, with layers of plastic and layers of aluminum that exclude oxygen and light. This format can be filled entirely with wine, thereby excluding oxygen. It is accepted by consumers at lower price points and does well in markets where price is a major driver such as Germany. Producers using this packaging must make a large initial investment in filling equipment and some producers will outsource the filling of bricks.

What is brick packaging?

6-9 months pending quality but some may protect up to a year

What is the shelf life of Bag-in-box?

Cans are made of aluminum with a plastic lining inside. This plastic is necessary as the wine's acidity would attack the aluminum. Cans are lightweight, robust, easy to open, impermeable to oxygen and recyclable. Packaging companies are experimenting with cans as they see potential for the RTD market. It's a format that is mainly used for inexpensive and mid-priced wines. The filling equipment requires a big investment and many producers will outsource the filling.

Describe can packaging.

PET packaging is made from a lightweight plastic that is lined with a barrier to reduce the ingress of oxygen and is available in a range of different sizes, including standard bottle size or the single serve RTD. This packaging does require special filling equipment because the bottles are inflated at filling. It is ideal for wines that have a limited shelf life and are made to be consumed young. It's a good format for informal settings like outdoor eating or for air travel where breakage is a hazard.

Describe how and when PET packaging is used.

flexible pour size good protection from oxygen after the wine has been poured range of sizes 1.5-20 liters easy to store low environmental impact

What are the advantages of Bag-in-box?

Loss of direct relationship with producer transfer of business and employment opportunities from producer countries to countries close by the final market Only viable for large brands. Those that sell three or more containers per year.

What are the disadvantages of bulk shipping?

Protect wine from rapid oxidation be inert so that it does not affect wine quality adversely easy to remove and reinsert be cheap, recyclable and free from faults

What are the ideal properties of a wine closure?

Slightly high SO2 levels thanglass low dissolved oxygen level no head space low carbon dioxide (to avoid bag bulging) high quality tap (this is where most oxygen ingress occurs)

What are the needs of Bag-in-box?

Australia (where it was invented) & Sweden (60% of wine)

What countries have really embraced Bag-in-box?

A cardboard box that houses a flexible bag inside

What is Bag-in-box?

Polyethylene terephthalate

What is PET and abbrievation for?

a form of plastic that is light (around 1/8th the weight of glass), tough, inexpensive and in principle, recyclable

What is PET packaging?

eco friendly cost effective greater thermal inertia strict quality control: RS, SO2 can be measured at point of filling the container and again on emptying it Wine can be adjusted (S02) at the point of bottling close to the final consumer Can extend shelf life of wine as this is calculated from the time of bottling-particularly relevant for bag-in-box

Advantages of bulk shipping

An Australian innovation, Bag-in-box's flexible bag is usually made from a very thin aluminum foil that is covered with plastic on both sides. Although, the flexible bag is also sometimes made from a plastic that gives some protection from oxygen and is resistant to cracking unlike aluminum foil. This environmentally friendly packaging is easy to store and has a shelf life between 6-9 months. It comes in a range of sizes from 1.5 to 20 liters. It offers numerous advantages such as a flexible pour size and good protection from oxygen after wine has been poured. The wine does require a slightly higher level of SO2 than glass to protect from oxidation, low dissolved oxygen levels, no head space, and low carbon dioxide. A high-quality tap is also necessary because this is the main point of oxygen ingress.

Describe Bag-in-box.

The shipping bulk wine in large containers is eco friendly and cost effective. There are two types of containers for shipping wine in bulk. Flexitank, the most common option, is a single use, recyclable polyethylene bag that is coated with a barrier to prevent taint from an external source and to reduce the ingress of oxygen. An ISO tank is the other option. It is a stainless steel vessel built to ISO standards that may be reused many times and may have additional insulation. Shipping in bulk also has the advantage of greater thermal inertia which means there is less fluctuation in temperature. Reefers are insulated tanks with temperature control but their usage adds costs.

Describe Bulk transportation

Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point is a common approach to quality assurance regarding significant threats to the safety of consumers and the reputation of a wine company. All possible hazards that could affect wine quality are identified and for each hazard the HACCP document will state how serious it is and how it can be avoided or corrected. An audit by a third party is not required but the HACCP plan and the actions to implement it will be available for inspection.

Describe HACCP

International organization for standardization provides a set of standards, like ISO 9000 and 9001, that third party auditors can use in an audit of a producers quality control standards. These audits will give assurance to the wholesaler, the retailer, and the consumer that quality control standards are being adhered to.

Describe ISO standards.

The complete way a business organizes itself to deliver a good product consistently and to protect itself from legal challenges. A producer will demonstrate that it has taken all reasonable precautions to produce a safe product by documenting the planning, the management systems implemented and the monitoring and recording of key standards from vineyard to bottling of wine

Describe Quality Assurance.

the set of practices by which the company ensures a consistently good product

Describe Quality control.

In order to be able to respond and investigate complaints about wine, producers will use a formal system of recording every step of wine production. In the EU Lot numbers are assigned to each consignment of wine and appear on the bottle. These numbers allow for traceability by offering records of where the grapes came from, what additives have been used and what processes the wine went through. Having the ability to research any issues with the wine, will allow a producer to improve its practice and eliminate any future occurrences.

Describe Traceability.

A closure, often referred to by the vinolok brand name, made from glass but the actual seal is formed by a plastic ring. Wine can be stored for similar lengths of time as under closures such as natural cork. Glass stoppers require special bottles to ensure a perfect fit. They look attractive but are just as expensive as top quality cork and are suitable for premium and super premium wines.

Describe a Glass Stopper.

A screwcap is an aluminum closure rolled onto the outside of a bottleneck that has been specifically designed for this purpose. The seal with the wine is made from either tin or saran. Tin is impermeable to oxygen and can make wines reductive after bottling, with an unpleasant onion-like smell on first opening. Winemakers avoid reduction in the wine by adapting the final wine to have slightly lower SO2 levels. The nice thing about screwcaps is that no tool is required to open them and cork taint is not an issue. Consumer acceptance does vary by market. Screwcaps have a high degree of acceptance in Australia, UK, and New Zealand. In other markets, such as the USA and China, some consumers see screwcaps as synonymous with inexpensive wines.

Describe a screwcap.

A cork made from food grade plastic and coated with silicone. These corks can be produced either by moulding or extrusion. Moulded closures, the least expensive synthetic cork, are rigid and difficult to reinsert in the bottle. These corks are only suitable for inexpensive wines, that are meant for immediate consumption, as they offer the least protection from oxygen. Extruded closures are an external firm layer of plastic covering a plastic foam and solve the issue of elasticity. Extruded corks also offer a range of oxygen ingress rates with top producer, Nomacorc, claiming their top line is suitable for extended ageing. Flavor scalping, the loss of flavor intensity that occurs when a plastic cork absorbs some flavor molecules, is an issue with synthetic corks.

Describe a synthetic cork.