How Much Does The Colour of A Wine Bottle Really Matter?
You’ve probably noticed that wine bottles come in a range of shapes and sizes (wine also comes in vessels that are not glass bottles but that’s a topic for another day!). It just so happens that wine bottles also come in a range of colours, with dark black or dark green glass often being the most prominent.
WHY ARE DIFFERENT BOTTLE COLOURS USED IN WINE PACKAGING?
While it is commonly understood that different wine bottle sizes will hold (and ultimately delight the consumer with) different amounts of the prized juice that they contain, it is perhaps less clear what impact the colour of a wine bottle might have and/or why different glass colours are utilized. Essentially, there are three main reasons.
In some cases, wine bottle colours - be they black, brown, clear, amber or any other colour in the rainbow - are very much related to historical significance. For example, it is customary to use a dark green, almost black bottle in Bordeaux for red wine and a lighter green bottle in for white wines from Alsace. When it comes to Burgundy, dark bottles are the norm. In these cases, consumers EXPECT wine bottles to be a certain colour and size because this is come to be the expected norm for the region….and thus, this is what producers use.
In other situations, wine bottle colours might be chosen for marketing reasons. For example, a winemaker might wish to draw similarities between their wine(s) and those of a certain region in the minds of the consumer. They may then choose a certain bottle colour on this basis. In a similar vein, a producer may wish to show off the wine’s colour. You see this is especially true with rose wines, which often come packaged in clear glass. White wines are also often found in lighter coloured glass bottles.
The third, and possibly most important reason that producers may choose one wine bottle colour over another is for the amount of UV protection that the glass offers to the wine. Like a pair of glasses, the darker the shade of glass employed, the more protection that is offered to the wine in the wine bottle.
UNDERSTANDING THE IMPLICATIONS OF LIGHT ON WINE
Simply put, light is one of the main destroyers of wine. It doesn’t matter whether we are talking about fine wine, expensive wine, new vs. old world wine, or mass-produced, inexpensive brands - in all cases, light and wine do not get along. This is because light, whether from the sun or from artificial sources, causes certain chemical reactions in wine which produce off-odours such as cooked cabbage, damp basement and wet dog smells so long as that light transmits UV rays.
So prominent is this issue that it has a name - “light strike”. Wines that are light struck are spoiled, and who wants to drink a spoiled bottle of wine, right? Wine lovers want to experience fragrant bouquets and bowls of flowers and roses as they sip their wine, not aromas that make them want to gag.
Light strike is the number one reason that sage wisdom when it comes to storing your wine is to store it AWAY from light, in a cool and dark location. If you didn’t know that the colour of your wine bottle magnifies the situation prior to this point, now you do!
In terms of the colour wheel, the colour that is the most prone to ending in wine spoilage is in fact clear glass….and it progresses towards more protection from there, as the colour of the glass gets darker. Clear glass bottles offer almost zero protection from light strike.
SO WHAT DOES THE COLOUR OF A WINE BOTTLE MEAN FOR WINE LOVERS?
So here’s the thing.
No one is saying you should not purchase a bottle of wine that is packaged in a clear bottle (though, I must confess that I have heard some wine enthusiasts say they refuse to buy wine that is encased in clear glass!). Frankly, we purchase wine in clear bottles all the time. As noted earlier, clear glass packaging is especially prominent for some wine styles such as rose and/or in some parts of the world and therefore, it can be virtually impossible to avoid.
Having said this, one thing that wine lovers should always keep in mind is that wine in clear glass bottles is intended to be consumed right away and should not be stored for any real length of time. If it is being stored, it certainly should not be stored anywhere near any light. Stick it in a kitchen cupboard or a closet (or ideally, a wine fridge!) while you wait to consume it…and consume it quickly!
Also, be careful when purchasing wine at a store or bottle shop. If a wine in a clear bottle is sitting right next to or in front of a window, maybe think of skipping it and picking something else to enjoy. Your chances of being disappointed go down considerably if you do! :)
So there you have it. Wine bottle colour does matter. And now you know why! xo
Wishing you peace, love and light….and of course, good wine!
Cheers!
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