Yealands plastic bottle Full Circle is a winner

Yealands plastic bottle Full Circle is a winner

Full Circle by Yealands Estate - New Zealand’s first wine sold in a plastic bottle – has won a silver medal at the Royal Easter Wine Show 2010.

Yealands recently won 10 medals overall including Gold for Yealands Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2009 and Silver for both Peter Yealands Sauvignon Blanc 2009 and Yealands Riesling 2008.

Owner and founder, Peter Yealands, is particularly pleased with the silver for Full Circle saying the award proves that quality wine can be found in plastic (PET) bottles.

“Wines entered into competitions are all tasted blind, so the judges who tasted Full Circle did not know they were trying wine from a plastic bottle. This award proves that the oxygen scavenger technology works and the only flavours coming out of the PET bottle are those true of our unique Awatere Valley characteristics.”

“We’re keen to push the boundaries in our quest to be green but not to the detriment of the quality of our wines. We’re proving our critics wrong and we’re pretty chuffed about this silver medal,” said Peter.

And it’s not just wine critics giving Full Circle the thumbs up – consumers are too.

The initial Full Circle pilot has been so successful that Yealands is about to start the fourth round of bottling, and the product will now be stocked in New World and Pak n Save supermarkets nationwide.

Peter says that Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, which is best consumed young and usually within a day or two of purchase, is the perfect varietal for plastic bottles.

The PET bottles weigh just 50gms compared to 500gm for a standard glass bottle and is easier to recycle which makes it better for the environment.

Consumers have been enjoying the benefits of the lightweight bottle which is a smart option for campers and boaties, and for festival-goers where glass is prohibited.

“When you look at the energy used in moving heavyweight glass around the world and within New Zealand, there is a lot of energy wasted that could be minimised with plastic bottles like Full Circle that are 89 per cent lighter than a traditional glass bottle,” says Peter.

Full Circle Sauvignon Blanc 2009 shows lifted notes of wet stone and blackcurrant with vibrant fresh herbs and a long mineral finish making it a perfect match with pasta and seafood. It has a recommended retail price of $16.95.

ENDS

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