PROCESS FOR PACKAGING WINE IN ALUMINUM CANS
A filled two-piece aluminium can contains a wine that has less than 35 ppm of free SO 2 , less than 300 ppm of chlorides, less than 800 ppm of sulfates, and less than 250 ppm of total sulfur dioxide. The can is sealed with an aluminium closure such that the pressure within the can is at a minimum value necessary to prevent buckling of the can, typically 20 psi. The inner surface of the aluminium can is coated with a corrosion resistant coating.
1 . A filled two-piece aluminium can containing a wine that has less than 35 ppm of free SO 2 , less than 300 ppm of chlorides and less than 800 ppm of sulfates, the can being sealed with an aluminium closure such that the there is a minimum pressure within the can sufficient to prevent buckling of the can and wherein the inner surface of the aluminium can is coated with a corrosion resistant coating.
2 . A filled can as defined in claim 1 wherein the wine is characterised by having total sulphur dioxide levels less than 250 ppm.
3 . A filled can as defined in claim 1 wherein the maximum oxygen content of the head space is 1% v/v.
4 . A filled can as defined in claim 1 wherein the wine is carbonated.
5 . A filled can as defined in claim 1 wherein the corrosion resistant coating is a thermoset coating.
6 . A filled can as defined in claim 1 in which the wine is further characterised by having total nitrates less than 30 ppm, total phosphates less than 900 ppm and acidity calculated as tartaric acid in the range g/litre to 9 g/litre.
7 . A filled can as defined in claim 1 in which the wine is further characterised by containing less than 1 ppm of nitrites.
8 . A filled can as defined in any one of claims 1 wherein the head space in the can has the composition nitrogen 80-97% v/v and carbon dioxide 2-20% v/v.
9 . A filled can as defined in claim 4 wherein the head space is predominantly carbon dioxide.
10 . A process for packaging wine in two piece aluminium cans including the steps of preparing wine characterised in that it has less than 35 ppm of free SO 2 , less than 300 ppm of chlorides, less than 800 ppm of sulfates; filling a two piece aluminium can body with the wine and sealing with an aluminium closure such that the pressure within the can is at a minimum value necessary to prevent buckling of the can and wherein the inner surface of the aluminium is coated with a corrosion resistant coating.
11 . A process as claimed in claim 10 wherein the wine is chilled before filling.
12 . A process as claimed in claim 10 wherein the wine is characterised by having total sulphur dioxide levels less than 250 ppm.
13 . A process as claimed in claim 10 wherein the wine is characterised by having total nitrates less than 30 ppm, total phosphates less than 900 ppm and acidity calculated as tartaric acid in the range g/litre to 9 g/litre.
14 . A process as claimed in claim 12 in which the wine is further characterised by containing less than 1 ppm of nitrites.
15 . A process as claimed in claim 12 wherein the head space in the can has the composition nitrogen 80-97% v/v and carbon dioxide 2-20% v/v.
16 . A process as claimed in claim 10 wherein the wine is carbonated and the head space is predominantly carbon dioxide.