Wrap: Lightweight wine bottle available by the end of the year

Wrap revealed in May that Kingsland Wines and Spirits, Tesco and Quinn Glass were trialling the bottle for new world wines that are bulk imported into the UK.

A range of filling-line trials, product strength and market testing is currently underway following trial production runs at Quinn Glass's Elton facility in July.

"Subject to final testing, the bottle will be available in late 2009," Wrap said in a statement to Packaging News.

Tesco has indicated that it will be using the bottles from January, and Asda is said to be among the retailers that have shown interest.

"The design of the bottle is unique and reduces the current best in class by 56g. We believe its the first 300g screwcap wine bottle produced anywhere in the world," said Wrap.

Italian firm Cantine di Soave is currently using a 325g bottle from Saint Gobain Vetri, which the firm said is 75g lighter than the standard.

Wrap has developed an online programme that enables firms to assess the carbon footprint of the wine they import into the UK. The Wine Ready Reckoner can be accessed by clicking here.