Technology Transfer– changes in the materials and containers used to store and transport wine

- JOHAN MATHEW

History

• The earliest known vessel, that could have been used for wine is the Qvevri, which is a clay jar, said to date back to 6000 BC.

• 79 AD- First evidence of barrel. Romans stored their wine in wooden containers held together with loops.

• 1600’s- New glass making techniques started in England.

• Monk takes giant step from using wooden plugs to cork as a wine closure.

Amphora

• An Amphora is a vessel that was used to transport and store wine dating back as far as 800 B.C.

• Made from clay.• Chemical analysis reveals

fermented juice.• Earliest evidence of use in

Northern China.Why Amphora….??• Strong• Impermeable• Non-reactive

Why Amphora….???

Strong

Impermeable

Non-reactive

Why pointed base….???

Because they were used mainly in shipping

Wine protected from spoilage by…

A layer of olive oil or bees wax.

A soft clay stopper.

Stopper would be marked with contents and other information.

The bottle shape is born

• Initially hand blown glass.

• Bottle has a small capacity suitable for one drinking session.

• There was an issue, as each bottle was a different shape and size so the customer never knew exactly how much wine they were getting.

• Glass blowing became easier with time and the need for long flat shaped bottle became necessary.

• In 1979 U.S. set law for bottles to be 750 ml.

Bottle types

Bordeaux : High shoulder and straight and straight sides.

Burgundy : Sloping shoulders and tall.Champagne : Sloping sides and wider bottle.Rhine : Narrow and tall.

Fortified : Straight body with high, rounded shoulder.

Bottle Stoppers

Old : Layer of olive oil, soaked rags, wooden stoppers.

Corks• First recorded use in

Egypt.• First cork factory in

1750 in Spain.• Production boomed in

19th century.

Screw cap • No more cork taint.• Caps are cheap.• Maintains freshness.• Reduce oxidation.

Wooden Barrels

• Made from rounded oak.• Could be rolled and stacked.• Most convenient form of

transportation until 19th century.

Why wooden barrels?

• Oak imparts interesting aromas to the wine.

• Less susceptible to wood diseases.

Barrel Making ( )

• Split wood is passed through bandsaw.

• Metal ring is used to hold the staves.

• When circle is complete a third loop is hammered.

• Staves heated to bend.

• Oak is toasted in different degrees.

• After toasting, the hoops are removed from the middle of the barrel and the outside is sanded.

• Barrel is tightened.

Then after all…

• The bung-hole is drilled into the side of the barrel.

• The outside is given its final planning before the bottom lid are fitted.

READY TO FILL!

Conditions for transporting wine

• Ideal temperature must be maintained (13-16 degree Celsius).

• Humidity should remain constant.

• Wine movement should be minimal.

• Climate controlled containers used for transporting to minimise fluctuations in environment.

Modern methods for transporting wine

• Bulk wine transport

ISO Tanks Flexitanks

• Bottled wine transport

Bulk

• Limited lost space.

• Cost efficient.

• Oxidation occurs through entire product.

Vs.

Bottled

• Lower volume per container.

• More costly.

• Oxidation can be limited.

Future Storage Containers

Tetra Pack

Advantages-

Made from recyclable products.

Will reduce gas emissions.

92% less packaging.

54% less energy than glass.

30-40% less trucks to transport the same amount as bottled wine.

Disadvantages-

Not suitable for long term storage.

Wine cannot be seen through packaging.

PET Bottle

Advantages-

Can be recycled.

Very light.

Shatterproof

Flexible

Re-sealable Diadvantages-

Limited shelf life

Not suitable for long term maturation

Aluminium cans

Advantages-

Ready to drink

Single serving

No possible cork taint

Protects wine from UV rays

Disadvantages-

Chemical reaction will occur between wine and aluminium

Unpleasant taste

References and Resources•Before The Wine Bottle Existed. April 2009. Retrieved 24 July,

2013, from: http://salutwineco.wordpress.com/2009/04/27/historyof bottles/A Short History of Wine Bottles.

•History of Glass Wine Bottles. (n.d). Retrieved 24 July,2013, from:http://www.wineintro.com/history/glassware/general.html

•Pendleton, J. (2007). Wine History-When the Cork Met the Bottle. Retrieved 24 July,2013, from:http://thewinehistorian.blogspot.co.nz/2007 /09/wine-history-when-cork-met-bottle.html.

•Wine in PET Bottles: Will Plastic Replace Glass?. (n.d). Retrieved 24 July, 2013, from:http://www.wineanorak.com/wine_in_pet_bottles.html

•A History of Wine Storage. (n.d.). Retrieved 24 July, 2013, from:http://www.spiralcellars.co.uk/news/a-history-of-wine-storage2/

•Brostrom, G. G., Brostrom, J. (2008). The Business of Wine: An Encyclopedia. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group.

•Johnson, H. (1989). The Story of Wine. London: Mitchell Beazley International.

•Intardonato, J. (2008). Fermenting Wine in Cement Tanks. Retrieved 25 July, 2013, from:http://www.winebusiness.com/wbm/?go=getArticle&datald=55049

•Amphora. (2013). Retrieved 25 July, 2013, from:https://en.wikipedia.org/•wiki/Amphora