When shoppers see new, half-litre bottles of French rosé on sale in Waitrose, they will be struck by more than their unusual size. The wine's distinctive hue will be indiscernible through green glass, usually reserved for whites & reds. High energy prices & soaring demand for wine in the US & Asia have meant clear glass bottles are at a premium, & retailers simply cannot get enough. Waitrose's French supplier won't deliver until May. Nick Rose, buyer for Waitrose, says glass bottles, especially those in non- standard shapes & sizes, have become hard to obtain owing to strong global demand. "Producers have had to stand in line & wait for supplies," he says. Glass makers have also been raising prices because of high energy costs. Energy accounts for about a quarter of the cost of making a glass bottle. A standard bottle costs about 13p, up from 10p last year.
