WTAF? It’s time for the wine industry to take an alternative approach to packaging

It is an open secret in the wine industry that the only way to make a significant step towards sustainability in wine is to move away from glass bottles. Until recently, there wasn’t anything being done about it, so a group of like-minded wine brands have formed an alliance “Wine Traders For Alternative Formats” (WTAF) to tackle the issue.

The group is on a mission to help reduce the carbon footprint of wine industry through eco-friendly innovations such as alternative format packaging, innovative recycling schemes, sustainably made wines, carbon life-cycle assessments and reforestation schemes.

WTAF founding members are BIB Wine, Canned Wine Co, Copper Crew, Graft Wine Company, More Wine and When in Rome Wine, a vanguard of the new wave of wine companies, who believe the biggest change they can make in wine is to reach for something other than a bottle.

Really and truly we had so much fun at the inaugural WTAF tasting event held at the Institute of Masters of Wine in Battersea the other week. It is not every day that you have Jancis Robinson AND Hugh Johnson sampling your wines! Heroes and legends both. I have had the very great pleasure of reading their various books, publications, musings and general commentary on the world of wine over the years.  To have them both interested in this small dynamic sub sector of the wine market was to me the very confirmation of the path on which we have all decided to tread.

There were a flock, herd, gathering, spittoon (really what is the best word for an assemblage!) of Masters of Wine (MWs) present along with a good number of well-informed influencers, educators and restaurateurs in the room.  A fine turn out indeed.

If you want a taste of what was on show then these two wines in alternative packaging received the most interest and a write up from Peter Richards of @susieandpeter fame.  A MW of course….!

Tank #10, Airen / Macabeo, VinNaturo, Spain – 1.5ltr Pouch Orange Wine (morewine.co.uk)

La Cox, AOC Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux – 5ltr Bag in Box Red Wine (morewine.co.uk)

For a full round up then tune in to their excellent podcast

Wine Blast with Susie & Peter, Masters of Wine – Official Podcast Page (susieandpeter.com)