Alternative (and Sustainable) Packaging
About a month ago my husband and I were shopping at Whole Foods and I saw a classy end cap display of 3L Spanish boxed wine. I tend to experiment quite a bit when it comes to wine, so I grabbed a box. At the checkout counter, when the woman scanned the box of wine, my husband put his hands over his eyes and said, “I’m not with her; she picked that out” to clearly communicate how embarrassed he was that we were buying boxed wine. 3L is quite a bit of wine and it took us about 2 weeks to finish. We both loved it. It was easy to carry the box to the table, set it down, and quickly refill our glasses whenever they ran low. By the end of the “experiment” my husband admitted that he was mistaken and boxed wine could actually be good. (Apologies – we quickly recycled the box and I can’t recall the producer’s name.)
We were shopping at Fred Meyer last week and came across what I believe is their first Tetra Pak packaged wine – French Rabbit. 1L of French wine for $15ish (Vin de Pays D’Oc). Not bad. As soon as I put it in my cart, my husband said “cool, should we get two?” He clearly is now into experimenting with alternative packaging. We enjoyed it as a simple red table wine and again appreciated how easy it was to open, pour, and keep for several days. (And to think that the French – typically purests and old fashioned – are using Tetra Paks!) Instead of recycling it, I took it to the office to show it around. Tetra Pak packaged wines are huge in Canada; when I visited a Toronto liquor/wine store last spring, the shelves were full of Tetra Paks. Clearly Canadians like them!
This morning I read that Whole Foods is introducing two Australian wines made with organic grapes in sustainable packaging. The sustainable packaging is Tetra Pak.
All this research and curiosity on my part leads to me to ask this question: are consumers genuinely interested in alternative packaging like boxes and Tetra Paks? If so, at what price point, what varietals, and what appellations? If you have an opinion, I’d love to hear it.
Comments
Here’s my two cents for what it is worth. I’m an Oregonian and basically think wine packaging is lame duck, when it comes to direct to the consumer wine packaging I’ve seen in Europe.
However, there’s a little unknown Oregon company making some waves, and I just ordered some really unique wine bags from them. They are based in Portland, I think the owner travels looking for creative ideas to present wines. Anyway, everyone at the wine tastings I’ve taken these winebags thinks the bags are fabulous and priced quite reasonable. They have very nice wine and cheese totes too.
They also have what they call a NeoBag neoprene ergonomic looking type wine carrier, that I didn’t order, but think I will next time. I wonder if US consumers are ready for fashion when it comes to wine presentation like the Europeans. Who knows, here we score wine by a numbering system, in Europe they value the history of the wine and to hoot with the numbers. Here’s the website: http://www.winebags.com
Posted by: Timside | February 12, 2008 04:16 AM
Is there any difference in the taste?
Harry Bradman
http://www.abc-packaging.com/sections/Type_70.asp
2162 Clifton Way::Cleveland, Ohio, 44101
Posted by: Harry Bradman | April 13, 2008 12:52 PM
I can’t speak to the taste issue, but I will say that boxes use a plastic liner that doesn’t pass our sustainability “test” – uses a petroleum based, non-renewable resource that will end up in a landfill. Also, the wine is in long-term contact with the plastic, which concerns me. Any food or beverage packaged in plastic can absorb potentially carcinogenic substances from the plasticizers that are used in the production of the plastic. For me, it’s even more of a concern with alcoholic beverages, as alcohol is a powerful solvent that can leach out these dangerous chemicals faster and in greater volumes. Glass and natural cork is still the best option: inert, renewable, and recyclable.
- Russ Rosner, Winemaker, Sokol Blosser Winery
Posted by: Russ Rosner | April 16, 2008 10:50 AM