Assessment of Florida Blueberry Wine Packaged in Glass Bottles, Cans, and Plastic Bottles Throughout Accelerated Shelf-Life Testing

For thousands of years glass packaging for wine has traditionally been associated with quality and remains used today as an inert and recyclable container. However, alternative containers such as aluminum cans and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles have been gaining traction over the last several years because of their lower cost, increased recyclability, and increasing consumer acceptance. Advancements in can-liner technology further support aluminum cans as a realistic option for wineries; however, data on how different packaging types influence the quality of packaged wine remains sparse. This study evaluated the physiochemical properties of carbonated blueberry wine stored in glass bottles, aluminum cans, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles under accelerated conditions (35 °C). Across the three packaging types, the wine quality parameters of total acidity, sugar, and pH did not differ significantly. There were, however, measurable statistical differences that emerged in color, anthocyanin content, and volatile organic compound (VOC) profiles. Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed a strong linear relationship between the degradation of color (intensity and hue) and anthocyanin concentration over time for all packaging types, with the loss being dependent upon packaging type. These findings indicate that while certain quality attributes vary with container, the overall chemical changes in blueberry wine are comparable across glass, aluminum, and PET bottles. Consequently, aluminum can packaging stands as a viable, cost-effective alternative packaging for blueberry wine producers.