The Environmental Cost of a Bottle of Wine

Dana Nigro

From the Mar 31, 2014, issue

What aspect of winemaking has the biggest impact on the environment? It's an important question for wineries looking to go greener, but figuring out the answer can be challenging. And according to a new study that tracks the life cycle of one wine from grape planting to bottle disposal, packaging—primarily the production of heavy glass bottles—has a greater environmental impact than viticulture or vinification. Wine Spectator's Dana Nigro explains.

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