?Esporão winery boosts eco-friendly credentials

By Gemma McKenna

Published: 22 January, 2014

Portuguese winery Esporão is boosting its eco-friendly credentials with new packaging and labels for its Monte Velho brand.

Esporão, which is distributed in the UK by Barwell & Jones, has moved to lighter bottles. It was using 460g bottles but has now switched to 419g versions.

The bottles will also now be packed in cardboard boxes, printed with a single colour to use less ink. The labels have been redesigned to give a more modern feel but still with a nod to the Alentejo region and its traditions.

Fiona Juby, head of marketing at Barwell & Jonessaid: "It's encouraging to see that Esporão continues to evolve its packaging in line with their sustainability goals. Monte Velho is the number one premium Portuguese wine brand in the domestic market and also has excellent on and off trade distribution across the UK. We believe that the new lighter packaging and improved quality of the labels will appeal to the consumer."

Produced since 1992 at Herdade do Esporão, the company's Alentejo estate, Monte Velho wines new vintage includes the same varietal blends as in previous years, but the grapes are now grown in accordance with more stringent environmental practices, in order to produce the best quality fruit.

Monte Velho White 2012 is a blend of the indigenous grapes Antão Vaz, Roupeiro and Perrum. It has a fruity nose with notes of apricots, nectarines and citrus peel, with a long, aromatic finish

Monte Velho Red 2012 is a blend of the Alentejo grapes Aragonês and Trincadeira, together with Touriga Nacional and a dash of Syrah. The wine has wild berry fruit aromas and subtle toasted notes, with delicate tannins.

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