A beverage container is filled and sealed by:a) dispensing a predetermined amount of beverage, preferably wine, into an open-topped container having a circular rim, preferably a plastics wine glass, to leave a headspace above the beverage in the container;b) temporarily tacking a generally flat flexible film lid sized to fit over the open top to the rim of the container at at least one position around the rim while leaving the remainder of the rim free;c) engaging the tacked lid to cause flexure thereof to create a gap between the lid and the rim on one side;d) dispensing an inert gas, preferably nitrogen, through the gap so created and into the headspace to displace air therefrom; ande) bringing a heat sealer into engagement with the lid to heat seal the lid to the rim about its entire circumference, thereby trapping the inert gas within the headspace.