Viña Errazuriz First Chilean Winery to Offer Lightweight Bottles Commercially.

Viña Errazuriz, sixth generation wine innovator, is delighted to be the first major Chilean wine brand to move to lightweight glass bottles on a commercial level, globally. Each lightweight bottle has a 12.4% reduction in glass weight against the existing bottle, with minimal change to the dimensions and feel of the product.

Errazuriz has taken the step to move their entire Estate range to the new lightweight bottle sizes in line with present glass production technology. The first wines in the new bottles are currently being shipped and will make their UK debut in the On and Off Trade markets this Autumn. The new lighter bottles are part of the company’s focus on sustainable and environmentally conscious wine production. The only lightweight glass available in Chile at present is a Bordeaux Green bottle meaning the first wave of Errazuriz wines in the new format will be the Estate reds. These include Errazuriz Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Merlot, Sangiovese and Shiraz. Errazuriz Estate Pinot Noir will make the transfer to a lighter bottle by the end of the year, when the lightweight moulds for Burgundy style glass bottles are available. The Estate whites will begin to arrive in the UK in the lighter bottles at the same time. Once the white wines are rolled out as well, the annual saving in shipping weight will be approximately 500 tons!

Said Carlos de Carlos, Commercial Director for Errazuriz

“There are many reasons why we have chosen to move our key wines to lightweight bottles, but most importantly for us are the environmental implications. We have reduced the weight per bottle and this will lessen the energy used for bottle production, and transportation and so help reduce pollution. Overall, our wines have never been so environmentally friendly.”

Errazuriz will introduce the new weight bottles to the market with an Off Trade consumer Campaign to raise awareness of their environmentally friendly winemaking principles. The collars, printed on recycled card, will promote the benefits of light weight bottles and offer consumers the chance to win long-life Light Bulbs in return for ‘bright ideas’ in the form of energy saving suggestions.

www.errazuriz.co.uk