Bottle and glass combined

Hardy Wine Company - Australia's largest wine producer - has unveiled the Shuttle, an all-in-one, bottle-glass package that has the potential to redefine the way people drink their wine.

It is a wine bottle-glass combination that was developed for the Australian season of Cirque du Soleil. The concept has proved so popular with show-goers that Hardy Wine has decided to launch the bottle nationally.

The technology has the potential to redefine how people drink their wines the world over - particularly at sporting and other outdoor events, concerts and performances, where glassware is not permitted for safety reasons.

The Shuttle features a 187 mL (single serve) acrylic wine bottle securely sealed by its own acrylic wine glass. The tamper-proof bottle is opened by a simple twist-top action, which also releases the glass in which the wine is poured. Hardy Wine Company has launched the Shuttle under the Hardys brand in two styles - shiraz and chardonnay.

The concept is being introduced state by state as part of the national tour of the latest Cirque du Soleil production, Varekai.

Shuttles are easy to store and will keep for 12 months - which is almost double the shelf life of current PET small-format bottles. Its design also enables customers to be served more quickly and efficiently.

A small 'test market' consignment of 250 mL Shuttles has been being shipped under the Hardys Stamp of Australia label to the United Kingdom.