Method of packaging wine or a similar beverage, products obtained by the method, and apparatus for implementing the method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of packaging wine or a similar beverage, to products obtained by the method, and to apparatus for implementing the method. The present invention provides a method of packaging wine or a similar beverage in a receptacle in the form of a drinking glass ( 9 ), in which method said receptacle is made of glass and said glass receptacle is closed by means of a disposable capsule ( 1 ) having very low overall permeability to oxygen after being closed onto said receptacle.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . A packaged single-serving wine product comprising:
 a wine glass having sidewalls and a rim;   wine retained in the wine glass, wherein the wine has a dissolved carbon dioxide level of less than 400 milligrams per liter when initially placed in the wine glass;   a flexible capsule secured to the rim;   a headspace having a volume defined by (1) a surface of the wine, (2) a portion of the sidewalls extending between the surface of the wine and the rim, and (3) the flexible capsule, wherein immediately after securing the flexible capsule to the rim the headspace holds a gaseous mixture consisting essentially of less than 5% oxygen and the remainder carbon dioxide;   a sealant securing the flexible capsule to the rim, wherein the combined flexible capsule and sealant have an oxygen transmission rate of less than 10 cubic centimeters of oxygen for every square meter of flexible capsule and seal exposed to air during each 24 hour period within a 4 month duration; and   (1) a first portion of the flexible capsule adhered to the rim, (2) a reduced pressure in the headspace that results from some of the carbon dioxide in the gaseous mixture dissolving into the wine after the first portion of the capsule is secured to the rim, and (3) a second portion of the flexible capsule deformed toward the wine cooperating to form a seal having a shelf life of at least 4 months such that when the filled and sealed wine glass is exposed to an ambient temperature of 25° C. during the shelf life the pressure in the headspace does not increase enough to cause any part of the first portion of the flexible capsule to become un-adhered from the rim.   
   
   
       16 . A packaged single-serving wine product according to  claim 15 , wherein the headspace includes a volume of 2 cubic centimeters or more. 
   
   
       17 . A packaged single-serving wine product according to  claim 15 , wherein the wine has a dissolved carbon dioxide level of less than 200 milligrams per liter when initially placed in the wine glass. 
   
   
       18 . A packaged single-serving wine product according to  claim 15 , wherein the reduced pressure in the headspace further results from establishing a partial vacuum in the headspace prior to adhering the first portion of the capsule onto the rim. 
   
   
       19 . A packaged single-serving wine product according to  claim 15 , wherein the headspace holds a gaseous mixture consisting essentially of less than 5% oxygen and the remainder carbon dioxide and nitrogen. 
   
   
       20 . A packaged single-serving wine product according to  claim 15 , wherein the combined flexible capsule and sealant have an oxygen transmission rate of less than 5 cubic centimeters of oxygen for every square meter of flexible capsule and seal exposed to air during each 24 hour period within a 4 month duration. 
   
   
       21 . A packaged single-serving wine product according to  claim 15 , wherein the combined flexible capsule and sealant have an oxygen transmission rate of less than 10 cubic centimeters of oxygen for every square meter of flexible capsule and seal exposed to air during each 24 hour period within a 10 month duration. 
   
   
       22 . A packaged single-serving wine product according to  claim 21 , wherein the combined flexible capsule and sealant have an oxygen transmission rate of less than 5 cubic centimeters of oxygen for every square meter of flexible capsule and seal exposed to air during each 24 hour period within a 10 month duration. 
   
   
       23 . A method of packaging a single-serving wine product comprising:
 providing a wine glass having sidewalls and a rim;   placing wine in the wine glass, wherein the wine has a dissolved carbon dioxide level of less than 400 milligrams per liter when initially placed in the wine glass and the wine has a surface that cooperates with the sidewalls of the wine glass to define a headspace;   placing a gaseous mixture consisting essentially of less than 5% oxygen and the remainder carbon dioxide in the headspace;   securing a first portion of a flexible capsule to the rim with a sealant, wherein the combined flexible capsule and sealant have an oxygen transmission rate of less than 10 cubic centimeters of oxygen for every square meter of flexible capsule and seal exposed to air during each 24 hour period within a 4 month duration;   reducing pressure in the head space after securing the first portion of the flexible capsule to the rim via dissolving carbon dioxide into the wine to cause a second portion of the flexible capsule to deform toward the wine; and   forming a seal having a shelf life of at least 4 months such that when the filled and sealed wine glass is exposed to an ambient temperature of 25° C. during the shelf life the pressure in the headspace does not increase enough to cause any part of the first portion of the flexible capsule to become un-secured from the rim, wherein (1) the first portion of the flexible capsule adhered to the rim, (2) the reduced pressure in the headspace, and (3) the second portion of the flexible capsule deformed toward the wine cooperate to form the seal.   
   
   
       24 . A mechanical seal for a wine glass comprising:
 a sealant holding a flexible capsule outer portion to a rim of a wine glass, wherein the flexible capsule includes a wine-facing side and an opposing side and the combination of the sealant and flexible capsule are configured to have an oxygen transmission rate of less than 10 cubic centimeters of oxygen for every square meter of the flexible capsule opposing side exposed to air during each 24 hour period within a 4 month duration;   a gaseous pressure in a headspace located on the wine-facing side of the flexible capsule, wherein the gaseous pressure is exerted by a gaseous mixture consisting essentially of less than 5% oxygen and the remainder carbon dioxide, and wherein the gaseous pressure exerted on the wine-facing side of the flexible capsule is less than an atmospheric pressure exerted on the opposing side of the flexible capsule; and   a deformed portion of the flexible capsule, wherein the gaseous pressure exerted on the opposing side of the flexible capsule creates the deformed portion;   wherein the sealant, flexible capsule outer portion, gaseous pressure in the headspace, and the deformed portion of the flexible capsule cooperate to maintain the flexible capsule outer portion held to the rim of the wine glass for a shelf-life of at least 4 months in an ambient temperature of 25° C.