Swept along with the everything “Green” movement are a number of wine enthusiasts and environmentalist who have begun to rally behind the use of plastic wine bottles. When I first read an article about the momentum-gaining fad, I sighed deeply; not a sigh of relief but a sigh of displeasure emanating from my soul. I immediately stopped to analyze my initial aversion to the idea of opening a screw-top green plastic bottle and pouring wine from its threaded opening. Was this in fact a genius idea that would revolutionize the wine industry? Or will I be forced to stockpile glass bottled wine and resist the coercion to accept that plastic-y taste. I decided to read some opposing views and see how intelligently the arguments were presented.

Those in favor of plastic wine bottles present mostly environmental facts which I can sympathize with. None of us want to eventually live on a giant trash heap, our bodies wrought with illness because of our unsanitary existence. I love trees as much as the next person; I do live in the Pacific Northwest after all. So they say these green plastic wine bottles will reduce our carbon footprint significantly. They are typically designed to be shatterproof, lightweight, and free of the chemical BPA. Because these wine bottles are much lighter than glass bottles, shipping can be done in greater quantity thus saving shipping costs, energy, and space.

Supporters of green plastic wine bottles also argue that because the plastic used is 100% recyclable, conversion to these bottles will reduce green house emissions by over 50%, water consumption by about 75%, and air pollution by around 50%. These are some impressive percentages to absorb. I started to figuratively pack my bags because I felt a guilt trip coming on. Also, I read that 6 plastic bottles are lighter than 1 glass bottle which helps explain the positive effects on cost and energy consumption.

Ecological concerns aside, I drink wine for the taste. And I want quality wine with rich complex flavor and aromas that can cause me to instantly attain Nirvana. I was disheartened to read a vineyard owner’s statement that consumers only care about what is in their wine glass not where it came from. This is assuredly not the case. I can’t say for certain that I would be able to tell the wine of plastic origin from the traditionally bottled vintage, but I can definitely attest to my concern over more than the contents of my wine glass.

Another cringe-inducing fact is that these plastic bottles have expiration dates; glass bottles offer a better barrier which means wine can be aged and remain “good” for a greater period of time. If plastic wine bottles are thrust upon us completely, we’ll all need to quickly invest in personal wine refrigerators. A few blind taste tests were performed with only a few varietals and the wines was rated as tasting good. But plastic is not ideal for aging, especially with poor alcohol containment. Wine experts have affirmed that quality wines, which need to be aged in a wine cellar or cooler, will not fair well if aging is attempted in plastic bottles. These wines are too expensive to risk ruination.

Traditional glass bottle advocates also argue that wine making and drinking is steeped in tradition and that such deeply-rooted custom should not be broken. I must admit that plastic wine bottles make me think of cheap boxed wine. I want to keep my glass wine bottle habit for now but I can’t help feeling that, in the end, the “Green” enthusiasts will succeed in stocking our shelves full of plastic, expiration date-stamped, drop-it-and-it-won’t-break, wine bottles. I guess I’ll have to take up picnicking as a hobby.

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