Scooter basket. Pet coffin. Vinyl shelves. Zoom stand. Veg storage. Bird box. Fire starters. And, if you're the Prime Minister - for making models in which passengers are, 'enjoying themselves on this wonderful bus...'

Yes, all of these are the creative (sometimes baffling) uses to which wooden wine boxes have been put by creative wine types. 

But why do some wines come in wooden cases in the first place? What are their purpose - and, perhaps more importantly, their implications and their future?

This short & sweet Wine Blast Live version of our podcast is a response to this question from listener Andreas in Switzerland.

We feature input from leading wine producers, including breaking news from Château Langoa Barton in Bordeaux that they will be moving their entire 80,000-bottle production from wooden to cardboard boxes. They may even offer their customers the choice - with a surcharge for wooden boxes going to an environmental charity.

It's a tangent - yes, but a fascinating and fun one. Cheers to tangents!

For the photos (well worth a look) check out the link to our show notes: Boxing Clever on susieandpeter.com

NB: Wine Blast Live is a video-podcast and you can find the video either on our website show notes or on our YouTube channel

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