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Kegs and Pouches
There are few shortcuts in evolution and two of the most astonishing advancements in wine packaging are no exception. They took more than 6,000 years for the stainless steel keg and the wine pouch to evolve from a common ancestor.
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Tricor Braun
There are few shortcuts in evolution and two of the most astonishing advancements in wine packaging are no exception. They took more than 6,000 years for the stainless steel keg and the wine pouch to evolve from a common ancestor.
“Kegs promise improved quality for by-the-glass on-premise sales and stronger profits for both wineries and retailers,” says Thomas Deegan, PhD, a wine packaging consultant for TricorBraun WinPak. The company is one of North America’s largest suppliers of rigid packaging to the wine industry.
Kegs eliminate the predatory financial threat associated with by-the-glass wine sales. A restaurateur opens a bottle for a by-the-glass customer with the hope the remaining wine will not oxidize before other customers finish it.
The keg overcomes the spoilage issue caused by oxygen because the wine withdrawn is replaced by an inert gas, such as nitrogen, extending its “life” to as much as six months. They hold the equivalent of 26 bottles, require less storage space, and eliminate the problems associated with breakage.
For wineries, kegs are an economic step into financial modernity. Bottles devour $24 to $36 per 12 unit case. Bottles, capsules, corks, labels and cartons typically add $2.00 to $3.00 expense for each wine bottle.
A wine keg is a onetime expense ranging from $80 to $100. It holds the equivalent of 2.5 cases of wine and typically pays for itself within three uses. It can be reused for 30 years. Keg leasing programs are also available for wineries.
Wine shipping costs, which are determined by weight, are reduced with kegs. Each full keg typically weighs 58 pounds. The equivalent of 2.5 cases of wine typically weighs approximately 100 pounds. Wineries may either fill the kegs or use an independent filler.
The final judges of wine-by-the glass served from a keg are the customers who can be assured their wine has not been spoiled by oxidation, a bad cork, bottle shock or bottle variation. “Kegged wine is served at the correct temperature and is uniformly comparable to the first glass served from a bottle that has been properly stored,” says Deegan.
Kegs also represent an important step in reducing the carbon footprint by decreasing the cost of transportation and avoiding the recycling associated with bottles. A single keg will potentially eliminate 3,000 bottles from the wine distribution process.
Wine pouches are another evolutionary step forward. They are a generational advancement over bag-in-a-box wine packaging. Currently, ranging across North America in increasing importance are the Millennials, a generation of people who have different expectations. This distinctive group of wine drinkers want to drink wine in many places where glass containers are not acceptable. Unlike their ancestors, drinking from pouches is not unusual for Millennials and they frequently stuff them in backpacks, beach bags or hook them to bike racks. However, Millennials will not accept a decrease in wine quality.
Wine pouches most important evolutionary advancements are improvements in the materials that maintain the wine’s quality and reduce weight, which also trims shipping costs. Pouches are available in 750 ml, 1.5 ml, 1.75 ml and three liter sizes.
The one-way tap is specially designed to prevent O2 from entering the bag during filling. Taps come attached to the pouches and are designed to be shorter then BIB Taps because there is no need for them to extend outside the box.
Some wineries have chosen to purchase filling machines for pouches while others have taken their first step with a co-packer.
A viable option for any size winery is the Bag-in-Box Cask system, which offers tremendous opportunities for retail, tasting room and by-the-glass restaurant sales. Benefits include packaging wines at a lower cost, sustainability, and high product protection.
For more information on these exciting packaging evolutions for wine, please contact us as 707-399-5800
