In the Metodo Classico sparkling wine segment, technological innovation must go hand in hand with operational continuity and safety.
To meet the demands of a sector characterised by high internal pressures and very long ageing periods in the cellar, O-I, the world leader in the production of glass packaging for the wine and food & beverage sectors, is introducing a 75 cl solution that optimises the distribution of the glass to 795 grams, prioritising structural performance and seamless integration with existing production processes.
Until now, efforts to reduce the weight of bottles used in the Metodo Classico have often forced wineries to make complex technical compromises or undertake costly modifications to their packaging lines. O-I’s engineering solution overcomes this limitation, demonstrating that it is possible to improve the efficiency of the containers whilst maintaining full compatibility with traditional and automated workflows.
The technical challenge overcome by O-I lies in managing the bottle’s external geometry. Through meticulous co-design and structural simulation, the engineering team has reduced the weight whilst keeping the profile’s critical contact points unchanged:
- no impact on remuage: The bottle’s silhouette differs by just a few millimetres from heavier conventional models. This allows wineries to use the same handling cages and remuage systems they already have, eliminating the need for additional investment;
- mechanical integrity: The bottle is designed to safely withstand the stresses generated by in-bottle refermentation, ensuring resistance to internal pressure equivalent to that of standard-weight containers.
«The convergence of design and advanced engineering gives rise to innovative solutions developed on an industrial scale – comments Ernesto Ghigna, Marketing Leader Europe at O-I -. In our sector, innovation hinges on the ability to transform technical complexity into real value: technological, industrial and brand value. This is precisely what we have achieved with this new solution for the Metodo Classico, which guarantees maximum structural reliability and complete process continuity for wineries, reaffirming our role as a strategic partner in the development of ready-to-use solutions for the wine market».
Optimising the weight of the bottle without compromising its performance means using less energy to melt less glass and reducing overall CO₂ emissions by around 5 per cent. For wines that require years of ageing before reaching their peak quality, the packaging thus becomes a tool for protection and industrial efficiency, combining technical robustness with the premium nature of the category.
