Assessing Wine Quality in Glass and Alternative Packaging During Storage

Glass bottles remain ideal for wine marketing and long-term storage, but they also represent a major contributor to the overall carbon footprint of wine production. Although aluminum and plastic are emerging as alternative packaging, these materials can influence wine quality. The impact of wine packaging on the composition, color, and total phenolics of red wine and white wine was evaluated at 0, 6, and 12 months of storage at 15 °C in 2022 and 2023. Chambourcin and Vignoles (Vitis hybrids) grapes were harvested, produced into wine, then bottled in different packaging. Eight wine packaging treatments were evaluated for the 2022 wines, including three glass treatments (250 mL, 375 mL, and 750 mL) and five 250 mL containers of aluminum (AL), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and polypropylene (PP). Ten wine packaging treatments were evaluated for the 2023 wines, including three glass treatments (250 mL, 375 mL, and 750 mL), three aluminum treatments (250 mL, 375 mL, and 500 mL), three PET treatments (two 250 mL and 750 mL), and one 750 mL flexible pouch. In both years, the packaging treatment significantly impacted dissolved oxygen, free sulfur dioxide, L*, Delta E, and chroma at 6- and 12 months of storage in the red and white wines. As expected, the wine in glass packaging (375 and 750 mL) had the best color and phenolic stability during storage. Regardless of packaging treatment, Delta E (where values >5 indicate noticeably different color compared to wines in Glass 750 at bottling) for these wines increased during storage. For alternative packaging, aluminum and PET had potential for wine stored up to 6 months but less at 12 months of storage. Alternative packaging can lower the wine industry’s carbon footprint but does not provide the extended shelf-life of wine offered by glass packaging. However, alternative packaging remains a promising option for wines intended to be consumed within six months of bottling.