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Wine Packaging
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Through the ages, wine packaging has used a variety of containers
often dictated by the amount of wine, the intended length of storage
before consumption and even the varietal. In biblical times, wine
was often drunk rather quickly after production. This was in part
due to the lack of available air-tight containers and, of course,
due to the lack of constant temperature facilities. Yes, there
were underground cellars in Roman times but not for the everyday
man. In most circumstances, wine left exposed to the atmosphere
had a very short shelf life. In modern times, it is probably considered
that we have been become the masters of long shelf life. Several
different container options have evolved. Naturally, unless you
are producing and preparing your own wine for storage, you will
not get to choose your container. |
Ancient
Greek wine jugs |
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Early
Ornate Roman wine jug
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Jugs - As already mentioned, wine packaging in early
times was primarily for serving rather than for storage.
A jug that could be used for pouring, amphora, or
a larger variety where the drinking vessel could be dipped
and filled was the main wine packaging option in this period.
The jugs used were handmade often by the family themselves.
For the common folk they were not very elaborate either.
Usually made from the local clays and then fired, they were
also somewhat porous. In better circles, the wine packaging
jugs took on a completely different look and were quite
elaborate. These jugs were made by master craftsmen and
would be commissioned by the head of the household. Over
the centuries, wine packaging jugs developed into quite
an art and have since become collector's items. These jugs
also were modified to accept stoppers and corks for better
storage. |
Early
Ornate Roman wine jug |
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Skins
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Also used for wine packaging was animal skins. This method developed
in Europe and Asia. Initially the size of the skins dictated
the size of the vessel. Large skins were often stitched together
into a sort of old-style backpack that would carry a serious
quantity of wine. Obviously, this form of wine packaging was
more for the transportation of a larger quantity of wine over
a manageable walking distance. The idea of the bota or
zahato, a small. personal wine supply for the traveler,
came from the Spaniards. They came up with the concept of takes
smaller pieces of leather, probably leftovers from other production,
and sewing it together, incorporating a spout and stopper with
a shoulder strap. This was ideal when they were out riding or
working in the fields. This wine packaging type was usually
lined with tree sap or other resin so as to prevent seeping.
The zahato animal skin wine packaging type is also referred
to as a goatskin as it is traditionally made from two
pieces of tanned goatskin, hair and all - the hair goes on the
inside. The spout is made from horn and the bag is sealed with
pitch and finished with a red shoulder cord. The zahato has
developed worldwide popularity with the younger age groups in
our society.
Barrels
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The use of barrels for wine packaging dates back to the Roman
times when they were able to learn the skills of cooperage from
the Germanic tribesmen. Barrels is a very broad term as it defines
the type or style but by no means the size. Barrels have been
made and used for everything from long-term storage, fermentation
and aging (extremely large barrels) to shorter-term cellar-ing
and transportation (medium-sized, more manageable barrels) and
everything else including speciality type selling.(rather small
barrels). Barrels are not just used in wine packaging but also
for other alcoholic beverages. Barrels are generally made of
oak, although in ancient times there is reference to the use
of palm wood. During the period after Christ, winemakers have
experimented with many different woods such as cherry and maple
but due to the perishable nature of wood as a whole, they have
mostly continued to use the traditional hardwood, oak. This
too has a distinct advantage in the maturation process providing
that smooth, oakie flavor that many wine enthusiasts love.
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a
zahato or goatskin |
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Early
Skin-type wine packaging
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Wine
packaging with barrels - old and new, large and small
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Bottles
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When we think of wine packaging with bottles, we typically
think of glass of different shapes, sizes and colors. However,
the first wine bottles were made of clay like the one shown
that dates back to around 325AD and was discovered in Germany.
With the discovery of the art of glass-making and glass
bottles, wine packaging quickly adopted this container for
itself inherent see-through properties. Wine packaging was
probably the biggest catalyst for the glass bottle industry
in promoting the development and use of different shapes,
colors and capacities of bottle. The more common sizes are
the standard or 750ml, the half-bottle - 375ml, the flagon
or gallon jug as it is sometimes referred to and the large
bottle at 1.5 liters. Some shapes have become traditionally
associated with certain wines, such as the bell shape of
the burgundy bottle or the long, thin shape used for dessert
wines. Most of this traditional type wine packaging developed
in Europe and has been retained throughout the industry
worldwide. Occasionally you will see a deviation from tradition
by a winemaker. This is mostly done for marketing reasons.
Traditionally, bottled wine packaging was sealed with a
cork made from the naturally product obtained from France.
However, with the dramatic increase in the use of cork especially
within the every growing wine industry, suppliers started
to dwindle and the industry was forced to look for alternatives.
Corks made from compounded cork particles and various plastics
are commonly used on mainly lesser quality wines. There
is also a large and growing segment of the industry that
has started to use the screw-cap with a plastic inner seal
as an alternative. Every winemaker has their reason for
using one or the other but tradition definitely has its
value. Whatever type of bottle your wine comes in, don't
think that you can simply reseal the wine with the cork
or the cap and it will be fine as it will not - the oxygenation
process has already started. |
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 Get
yourself a couple of wine bottle vacuum pump/stoppers for both
regular and screwcap bottles so as to avoid waste and spoilage
- and the need for excessive drinking. Be sure to buy more than
one of each, you will need them. If you buy the right ones, they
are inexpensive and last for years. |
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The
bladder and a bag-in-a-box
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Casks / Boxes
- Less expensive wines, not that they are necessarily
unsavory, may well be found in a newer style of wine packaging
referred to variously as cask wine, boxed wine or bag-in-a-box
wine. This method of wine packaging uses a bladder principle
much like the bladder os a football with an automatic re-closing
mechanism. One of the distinct advantages of this wine packaging
is the length of time that the opened wine can be stored
and consumed as the pouring device does not allow air(oxygen)
back into the bladder. The practice of packaging using the
bag-in-a-box is typically used for generic type wines that
are available in large quantity and therefore can be offered
at a far more reasonable price. There is no doubt that they
have found a place at many a barbeque. But, frankly, if
you believe that Wine is the Essence of Life, then you will
also agree that bag-in-a-box is not the wave of the future
for wine packaging. |
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