Chile's Vina Errazuriz is moving its core range of wines to lightweight bottles in order to reduce energy consumption in production and transportation.
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 and has no impact on quality.
Pinot Noir and white wines will follow, once appropriate bottles have been cast.
The bottles are manufactured locally by Cristalerias Chile, and currently 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 costs and pollution for the whole industry.
Chile's Viña Carmen also announced recently that it would be moving some of its range into lightweight bottles to save on carbon emissions.
Errazuriz Estate wines retail in the UK for about £6.99 - £9.99.
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A very good initiative. may others follow and save mother Earth.
Ram Pareatumbee
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