The decision was made based on initial consumer response that saw net sales exceed $1 million CAD with over 100,000 consumer purchases of Wolf Blass Bilyara Reserve 750ml PET bottles after 6 months.
Priced from $14 - $16, the Wolf Blass Bilyara Reserve wines are crafted in a fruit-forward style that is ready to drink. They are sealed with a screw-cap closure to retain freshness and provide ease of opening. All four varieties are made from grapes grown in South Australia's premium vineyards, including the Barossa Valley, home of Wolf Blass Winery.
"Wolf Blass Bilyara Reserve's PET bottle delivers all the aesthetic qualities of glass making it a stylish choice for outdoor entertaining while delivering safety benefits through its shatterproof design" said Scott Oliver, President, Wolf Blass Wines Canada. "As we approach the warmer seasons, the 750ml PET bottle from Wolf Blass will offer Canadians a great option to explore new wine occasions such as hiking, camping and boating - places where traditional glass bottles are unsafe or not permitted," he added.
The lightweight PET bottle holds the same amount of wine as a standard 750ml wine bottle, yet it is designed to be 33 percent shorter for easier storage in a refrigerator, cooler or cupboard.
An official media release issued by Foster's Wine Estates Canada last week indicated that the Wolf Blass 750ml PET wine bottle is fully recyclable and weighs 54 grams prior to filling, offering an immediate 85 percent reduction in packaging weight. With the reduction in weight, the release stated, more wine can be transported per load than with glass bottles, so the net environmental benefit from the reduction of fuels used in shipping and trucking is significant.