Beajoulais Nouveau sails in plastic

THE first batches of Beaujolais Nouveau 2008 have set sail to the US in recyclable plastic bottles.

A spokesman for Boisset, one of the two main producers of beaujolais nouveau said the bottles were used because, unlike most wines, the drink had a short lifespan and there was little point in making efforts to conserve it.

The plastic bottles, half the weight of traditional glass, significantly reduce the cost of transport.

Freighters have already left France to deliver the wine to Boston and Miami before the third Thursday of November - the traditional Beaujolais day.

A spokesman for George Duboeuf, the biggest producer of Beaujolais Nouveau, said this year 75% of US exports would go by boat, up from the typical 33% of previous years.

"This will significantly change the carbon footprint and keep the price low for the customer," he said.

Photo:Jetalone