Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/670981
46 WINES&VINES May 2016 PACKAGING In 1991 the sale of table wines in non- glass containers was allowed in Italy, includ- i n g p o l y l a m i n a t e , P E T ( p o l y e t h y l e n e terephthalate), bag-in-box (BiB) and alu- minium cans. Since 2008, Protected Designa- tion of Origin wines can also be packaged in BiB (used mainly when buying bulk wine), if permitted by production regulations. Ad- ditionally, steel kegs have been authorized by EEC regulation 822-07 for the sale of wine on tap. In this case the container can with- stand pressure of up to 100 atmospheres. In Italy, many everyday wines packaged in paper products, aluminium and polyethylene are well accepted by consumers. In France you can also find mid-range and Appellation of Ori- gin Controlled wines sold in cartons. These containers are eco-friendly, light and recyclable; the square-cornered shape makes all the han- dling phases of the product easy, right up to when it is consumed. Volumes range from 200ml to 1 liter for different types of consumers. Cartons allow wine to be preserved even longer than 12 months (the legal expiration date), and the packaging is a good barrier against light and oxygen damage because of the small amount of head space (Baroni et al., 2013). Other rapidly spreading forms of packaging such as PET bottles and BiB allow a much shorter shelf life for wine—typically between two and nine months. Plastic packaging materials may release unwanted substances into wine and can also modify aromatic properties through "flavor scalping" (the absorption of volatile aroma compounds), depending on the characteristics of the materials and molecules involved (Lu- nardelli et al., 2009). Other factors may influ- ence this phenomenon, such as the volume of packaging in contact with the wine, wine pH, SO 2 level and storage temperature. Another aspect to consider is the perme- ability of plastic materials, especially to oxy- gen, and consequent deterioration of the product. Wine producers should monitor the evolution of their products in contact with these materials in relation to expected stor- age times. To reduce the environmental impact of packaging and transport, higher quality wines destined for aging can make use of lightweight glass bottles. The most suitable choice of packaging always depends on ex- pected shelf life of the product and on the type of distribution and marketing planned. Bag in box BiB packaging refers to a bag hidden inside a cardboard box fitted with a tap for serving and a handle for transport. The BiB was in- vented by U.S. chemist W.R. Scholle in 1955 and became the "Wine Box" in 1965, thanks to the Australian winemaker T. Angove. The bag is made of a multi-layered flex- ible film that must be physically resistant and a barrier against gases. It is made from poly- ester metalized with aluminium, plus a low- density polyethylene (LDPE) or ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) film in contact with the wine. The external cardboard must be resistant to internal pressure, vertical compression, perforation and humidity; the tap must have a strong valve with low permeability to oxy- gen. Also, the convenient handle for transport has its own importance (Vimont 2014). The capacities used vary from 3 to 20 liters. Use of BiB wine packaging, which ac- counts for 10% of the world wine market KEY POINTS Despite tradition and cultural issues, the use of packaging materials other than glass is spreading—especially for early- drinking wines. The materials must bar oxygen—the main culprit of alterations in wine color, polyphe- nols and aromas—yet few alternatives are as effective against oxygen as glass. Recent research uncovers the expected shelf life of wines in bag-in-box and PET packaging. Alternatives to Glass Packaging What are the effects on the sensory properties of wines? By Maria Carla Cravero A lternative containers to glass first developed in non-traditional wine-producing and consuming countries—especially Australia, one of the first countries to adopt alternative stoppers to cork (screwcaps and synthetic corks) for products destined to be consumed within a few months.