How about PET bottles with a 1 inside a recycling triangle?
I have a few brews going in them and have aged things for a long time in some.
I also have some in apple juice bottles with a 7 inside a recyling triangle and on the same bottle a 5 inside a recycling triangle. They have been in there for a long time.
As far as I'm aware, both PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) and HDPE (high density polyethylene) are fine for most stages of fermentation.
Some of the myth of hazard is from earlier plastics where there was a "plasticiser" that would leach into the contents. That is now a known hazard and has been banned in most locations - hence the rise of the phrase "food grade".
Now, that said, it should be remembered that alcohol is a solvent. Plastic use in the alcoholic beverage industry, still seems to be for lower strength drinks, or shorter term storage - think along the lines of what actually comes in plastic i.e. beers and ciders, most of which tend to be sold with a 1 year use by date (and yes, I know that in some cases, "use by" dates are there, solely for legal reasons).
When it comes to wines, it also seems that it's mainly the cheaper stuff that is meant to be drunk relatively young - think along the lines of wines that are available "in a box". The bladder in the box is plastic, but it's lined with some sort of metallic coating, though whether that's a protective thing, or just related to oxidation and possible light damage, I don't know. All of the more expensive wines still seem to be in glass. Whether that's a snobbery thing that emanates from the established "old world" (think places like France etc.), or whether it's because glass is inert, I don't know.
In most of the markets, spirits seem to be sold mainly in glass. Yes, it might be shipped around the place in bulk i.e. stainless steel, it's still, apparently, generally sold in glass. Presumably because the higher levels of alcohol content are likely to increase the drinks ability as a solvent. Of course, if you can, you could still use "stone jars" i.e. bottles made from a ceramic material, but they're often precluded for cost effectiveness.
Of course, you will know your own region and the general levels of temperature and humidity i.e. two of the things that can affect what's going on in a brew with "wine like" qualities.
"Better Bottles" are PET, I believe and are suitable for fermentation and other processes. I'm not convinced of their usefulness when it comes to long term storage and ageing. I'd rather stick to glass for that part.
Water Cooler bottles, are generally made from polycarbonate, which is fine for water, yet very slightly air permeable. They can pick up both staining and some odour. I have access to these and have used them successfully for fermenting etc, but any that become, in any way, stained or smelly, get dumped (recycled).
Without a good dig around the net, I don't have any links that explain the numbers used on the recycling marks, and whether they related to the actual material used in the manufacture or not, or whether it's just the level or type of recycling/reuse they can stand.
Dunno if that's of any use.......
