Alentejo wine region introduces lightweight glass bottles

The Alentejo Regional Wine Commission (CVRA) has announced the development of a new 390-gram glass bottle designed to reduce environmental impact and production costs. Developed in partnership with Verallia’s Portuguese subsidiary and local producers, the bottle is significantly lighter than the current industry average of 550 grams and the 420-gram standard set by the Sustainable Wine Roundtable.

If the region reaches its target of producing 50 million bottles annually, the initiative is estimated to save approximately 1,500 tons of glass and prevent the emission of 1,200 tons of CO2 per year. CVRA President Luís Sequeira noted that the new packaging is expected to be roughly 2% cheaper than current market options, optimizing logistics and transport for Alentejo wineries.

The design is compatible with high-speed bottling lines exceeding 10,000 bottles per hour. While a lighter 310-gram model was considered, it was rejected by producers who felt it might negatively affect the perception of wine quality.