“Light strike” is a term that strikes fear into the hearts of wine enthusiasts. Its detrimental impact on beloved wines, leading to off-flavours and unpleasant sulphurous aromas, should not be underestimated. Traditional flint glass used in wine packaging has proven insufficient in protecting against light strike. Packamama offers a barrier solution in our eco-flat wine bottles that addresses the shortcomings of flint glass.

Traditional Flint Glass
Light strike, triggered by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, results in the formation of sulphureous compounds that adversely affect wine quality. The critical wavelengths for these reactions are identified as 340, 375, and 440 nm. All wines, regardless of colour, absorb light at 340 and 375 nm, making these wavelengths universally damaging.

Flint glass, commonly used in the wine industry to showcase the spectrum of wine colour, falls short in protecting wine against light strike. Enhancing glass protection without compromising transparency or hue presents a challenge: cerium and titanium oxide solutions are cost-prohibitive and present production problems.

Reference: The Effect of Ultraviolet Light on Wine Quality”, WRAP.org.uk, ISBN: 1-84405-386-5 (Andy Hartley, May 2008)

Packamama’s Solution
Packamama addresses the limitations of traditional flint glass by introducing a colourless bottle with a UV barrier. Detailed research on our colourless bottle has shown that it transmits no UV light at 340 nm and only traces (less than 2%) at 375 nm to the wine. Our colourless bottle also improves on the transmission of visible light at 440 nm relative to flint glass, offering a further advantage in preventing light strike reactions. Furthermore, Packamama’s UV barrier does not impact PET recycling streams and so, in addition to our 100% recycled bottle material, delivers a circular product.

In the ongoing battle against light strike, flint glass has limitations. Packamama’s colourless bottle provides a safeguard for wine against harmful UV exposure, offering a valuable option for both winemakers and consumers. Wine lovers can still admire the glorious hues and shades of white and rosé wines in Packamama bottles without fear of unpleasant, sulphurous aromas.