NO PLASTIC BOTTLES for BEAUJOLAIS?

For many wine regions, image is everything.  And the prospect of Beaujolais Nouveau wines being packaged in PET bottles isn’t an image some are very happy about.  In order to maintain the region’s reputation, Inter Beaujolais, the ruling council for Beaujolais Nouveau wines, is considering a ban on wineries replacing glass bottles as several producers have begun doing over the last year.  Industry heavyweight Boisset was the first to make the switch.  It said the bottles were lighter, “nearly identical” to glass and would reduce the price of its wine by $1 to $2 per bottle to around $12.99 in the US.  Special technology is intended to protect the wine’s aroma and color by preventing oxygen from seeping into the bottle.  However, there is opposition and skepticism over the use of these bottles and their quality and image have been criticized by some in the wine trade.  Inter Beaujolais is planning on making a decision soon.  The council has hailed the 2OO9 Beaujolais vintage as “historic”.