Brown is the new green for top fizz

Research has shown that brown glass filters almost 100% of damaging ultraviolet light compared to green glass at 92%. But what does this mean for the wine? Brown glass gives better protection against short wavelength ultraviolet light, which can cause the release of sulphurous compounds within the wine, tainting it with what the French call goût de lumière.

So for Louis Roederer brown is the new green - the Champagne House has switched its green Champagne bottles for brown glass bottles. First to appear in the new brown bottle is Roederer's Brut Premier, which will be followed by the 2006 vintage. The introduction of brown bottles is a costly move due to smaller productions levels of brown glass but cellar master Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon described the decision as “part of our strive for perfection”.

Orange is still in vogue for Roederer’s prestige cuvée Cristal which will continue to be bottled using clear glass and wrapped in orange cellophane. The famous outer wrapping apparently achieves a 98% protection from ultraviolet penetration.