Technology Transfer – changes in the materials and containers

used to store and transport wine

By James Durrans2012000216

Wineskins

• Wineskins are made from animal hide or bladders

• It is not known when the wineskin was invented, but are some of the oldest known containers for wine

• Wineskins were seen as useful, durable containers Sourced From:

http://www.onefaithonechurch.com/index.php/wineskins/.

Amphorae

Amphorae are made of clay

Was seen as a perfect material because it can be formed into countless shapes and sizes.

They have been dated as far back at 4800 BC, by the Ancient Greeks Sourced From:

http://heathencritique.wordpress.com/2010/04/04/babylon-rising-chapters-16-17/

Originally used for storage, and not for

transfer of wine because there was not an effective way to stop the wine spilling out

Clay Stoppers, oil-soaked rags, and wooden stoppers were used to stop wine spilling before the cork became popular

Amphorae are shaped with a long neck, and a pair of handles at the top.

Amphorae

Barrels

Barrels are made from oak It is believed they

originated around 350BC, by the Celtics

The first barrels were probably not made for wine, but more likely they were made for beer

By the first century AD, barrels were commonly used across the Roman Empire for wine Sourced From:

http://www.humanitiesclub.talktalk.net/tudors/Tudor%20Web%20Pages/Harvey%20Explorers/index.htm

Barrels were better containers than pottery, but

shipwrecks have been found containing amphorae that have been dated between 100 and 200 AD

Barrels were/are popular because they can be easily rolled and stacked

Barrels were/are used throughout the whole wine making process (fermentation – transfer)

The only real material rival that barrels have seen in over 2000 years is the recent development of stainless steel tanks

Barrels

Glass Bottles

Originally used for just serving wine Bottles were originally just used for storage or

just pouring wine, because the glass used was not strong enough to transfer without breaking, there was also no real effective way to stop wine spilling out

Sourced From: http://taylor.pt/en/what-is-port-wine/history-of-port/vintage/

1800 AD bottles started being used for

storage and transport, due to glass being stronger

Cork stoppers were also invented and used around 1800 AD, this also helped with wine storage and transfer

There are many different sizes of glass bottles available and many different shapes and sizes depending on what they hold and where they originate from

Glass Bottles

Stainless Steel Tanks

Stainless steel tanks began to be used in the 1950s for wine fermenting, aging and storage

Easier to clean and maintain than barrels

Sourced From: http://www.winenetwork.co.nz/buy-and-sell/equipment/1035

Stainless steel tanks are generally much

bigger than any other form of container for holding wine

Stainless steel tanks can be used and they will not give off a flavour or a taste that may not be wanted in the wine

Can hold more wine than most other conventional wine storage containers

Can be used for any wine, and any style wanted

Stainless Steel Tanks

Wine is easily perishable, so conditions should

be maintained, and minimal movement should be used to preserve the wine

Ideal wine temperature should be between 13-16°C

Ideal wine humidity should be 70%

Transporting Wine Conditions

Bulk: • ISO tanks – International food grade wine

transport• Flexitank – Wine is in a bladder

Pre packaged:• Bottles – Needs package material with it

otherwise the glass might break on transport

Modern Transport of Wine

ISO Tanks

ISO tanks can hold up to 26,000 litres

International food grade wine transport

Wine needs to be stable before transport to minimise the chance oxidation occurring

Can be used multiple times

Sourced From: http://www.innovaindustries.net/inventory/iso-tanks/

Flexitanks

Wine is stored in a bladder inside a container

Designed to only be used once

Can hold up to 24,000L

Some of the parts of the flexitank are recyclable

Sourced From: http://www.flexitank.es/es/flexitank.htm

Bottles

Glass can sometimes break during transport of wine bottles

Wine can instantly be sold once it arrives, because it’s already in a bottle

Costs more to ship because it takes up more space

Sourced From: http://www.brickpackaging.com/product/38/Wine_Shippers/35/SHP12PKLW/

It is not very likely that storage for wine will

change much in the foreseeable future. Stainless steel tanks and barrels will still be

used due to them being very useful and good at what they are used for

Transport of wine will probably evolve and develop much in the future due to it being expensive and it not being that easy to go about

Future

A History of Fine Wine Storage. (n.d). Retrieved From:

http://www.finewineconcierge.com/a-history-of-fine-wine-storage Wine in PET Bottles: Will Plastic Replace Glass?. (n.d). Retrieved From:

http://www.wineanorak.com/wine_in_pet_bottles.htm History of Glass Wine Bottles. (n.d). Retrieved From:

http://www.wineintro.com/history/glassware/general.html The History of Wine Part II - Wine Storage - The Early Days. (2009). Retrieved

From: http://www.snooth.com/articles/the-history-of-wine-part-ii-wine-storage-the-early-days/?viewall=1

The History of Wine Part III - Wine Storage – Barrels. (2009). Retrieved From: http://www.snooth.com/articles/the-history-of-wine-part-ii-wine-storage-barrels/?viewall=1

A Short History of Wine Bottles. (2009). Retrieved From: http://salutwineco.wordpress.com/2009/04/27/historyofbottles/

The History of French Wine Storage. (2009). Retrieved From: http://www.supplewine.com/articles/wine/the-history-of-french-wine-storage-w20/

References