Wine Packaging for Market in Containers Other than Glass

In this study, the preservation of red and white wine in containers other than glass (PET, wine boxes, multilayer cartons) has been compared to that of the same wines in glass bottles. Preservation has been estimated up to 24 months, i.e., beyond the limits required by the Italian law, which are 12 months in the case of cartons and 9 months in the case of PET containers and wine boxes. Analytical parameters measuring preservation state, such as amount of oxygen dissolved, absorbance at 420 and 520 nm, tonality, total phenols, volatile acidity, and sulfur dioxide have been considered. The results have confirmed that the alternative containers are efficient for preserving both red and white wines, even for longer periods than those required by law. In particular, multilayer cartons proved to be particularly efficient since this material is less gas-permeable. Keywords: Wine; packaging; alternative containers; preservation