Chile's Vina Errazuriz is moving its core range of wines to lightweight bottles in order to reduce energy consumption in production & transport. The company, which claims to be the first in Chile to make such a large-scale commitment, plans to put all its Estate red wines apart from Pinot Noir into Bordeaux bottles weighing 425g, 60g lighter than the previous bottles, by the end of 2008. The bottles' dimensions are also marginally smaller, though Errazuriz say the difference is barely noticeable & has no impact on quality. Pinot Noir & white wines will follow, once appropriate bottles have been cast. The bottles are made locally by Cristalerias Chile, & cost the same as the heavier bottles, as economies of scale do not yet exist. However Errazuriz hopes other producers will follow its lead, reducing industry costs & pollution.
