Dear Terry and All, The idea of a flexible plastic container of wine inside a less flexible container for wine was first developed here in Geelong. I can recall the original packaging (in the mid 1960s) as having a plastic liner filled with wine inside a tin can; this had a capacity of four or five litres. The tin can was painted with wood looking colors and soon became known as a 'wine cask'.
I was careful to use the words, 'developed here in Geelong', because I think the initial concept of 'a bag in a box' was used elsewhere for other liquids, but the key innovation for wines - the tap - was developed here. It wasn't long before the tin can was replaced with a stout cardboard box, giving rise to the derisory term: 'Chateau Cardboard' as the wines used originally in this kind of packaging were of acceptable, but not of premium quality. See <http://www.convictcreations.com/culture/inventions.htm> and <http://www.abc.net.au/landline/stories/s549607.htm> By the way, the 'James Harrison' mentioned on the first web page (3rd item from the top) in relationship to beer was also from Geelong; he was editor of the 'Geelong Advertiser'. Since 1965, winemakers and drinkers of wines have realised the positive benefits of the plastic liner protecting the contents from oxidation (corks have a limited, and variable, ability to do this) and better quality wines now also use this type of packaging. For these better quality wines it is usual to package these in two litre or three litre containers, where the run-of-the-mill wines are usually packed in four litre or five litre boxes, but ten litre and twenty litre wine boxes are also used commonly in bars and for catering purposes. Wine casks in various formats have been in continuous use in Geelong for the past forty years. I have also seen oil and vinegar packed in similar 'wine casks'. Cheers, Pat Naughtin LCAMS Geelong, Australia -- on 2004-05-13 04.43, Terry Simpson at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: >> Of Nat Hager III >> Could be a positive development, by proliferating new packaging styles >> in the wine industry which could spill over into other areas. >> http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4952871/ >> Now I know you wine connoisseurs would cry. <g> > > I occasionally buy 3 litre boxes of wine here in the UK. The box has a bag > inside and a tap at the bottom. As the wine goes out, the bag gets smaller > so air cannot rush in to spoil the wine. So it lasts for many days and is > very appropriate for people who just want one or two glassfuls a day. I will > admit to having bought 1 litre plastic bottles of wine in France. > > The EU is debating pack size regulations. They specifically suggest that > wine that is not in glass containers would be deregulated to allow any size. > http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/prepack/impacts_alternatives/en_impacts > .pdf >
