Why are so many wineries using screw caps?!
1. Why?
2. Does it affect the wine in any way?
3. Why does it bug me so much? Wine should have a cork, right?
Answers: I've noticed that a lot of Australian and other regional wines are now coming in screw caps. And we're not talking poor quality wines
1. Why?
2. Does it affect the wine in any way?
3. Why does it bug me so much? Wine should have a cork, right?
1. It reduces spoilage, and therefore reduces bottles returned to the winery.
2. No, should actually improve the wine, no oxygen.
3. Yes, bottles should be corked. There is marvelous ceremony and tradition in removing a cork from a bottle of wine. It gives you a chance to introduce the wine, share stories, and build anticipation. If it were up to me, screw caps would be outlawed on wine.
Maybe they are catering to the folks who can't afford a cork screw.
And they are using spongey corks which I hate. I think it is more environmentally friendly but I still think it sucks!
The good screw caps with that protruding plastic part is actually better than a cork.
Besides the price of cork, they are finding that because a cork can spoil it is better to use a screw cap or one of the man made corks.
A lot of wines are doing this because screw caps are cheaper to manufacture, safer on the bottle (you wont end up with little bits of cork through your wine if you break a screw cap), and have no effect on the taste of the wine at all.
In fact, I find screw capped wine is generally nicer than plastic corked, because the plastic seems to taint the wine.
Also, a proper screwcap with the wee bit of plastic inside is actually more airtight than a conventional cork!
Most people don't like the idea because we're told by most vinyards that the cork is better because its been here for years etc etc etc, but thats mostly just pretentious rubbish.
Have fun drinking!
Economic reasons. New Zealand has changed to screw tops. Any way they are OK and you dont get the taste of the cork.
Cork is a rubbish way to seal wine. It gets tainted, it rots, it falls to bits.
I like the plastic corks but screw tops just make so much sense.
cork is in low supply not enough of it is available
If you want to stick with tradition, use a cork. Right. Cork is an organic product and if allowed to dry out, it leaks. Oxygen is an enemy of wine and once the stuff gets in there, it can ruin a really expensive bottle and make it unfit to drink. Corks can also break up when you try to get it out and leave little pieces floating in the wine. Not exactly appetizing is it?
Many wineries have gone to plastic corks. It solves the problem and you still have to use a corkscrew so the "tradition" is intact.
Screw on tops eliminate both problems. Not only is New Zealand using them, but some European and a lot of the California and Australian wineries too.
I've never had a bad bottle that was sealed with a plastic cork or screw top. I can't say the same about natural cork though.
I think almost everyone will switch over eventually. With all the wines being shipped in From South America, Africa, and other countries, maintaining quality will be the reason.
They claim it is an environmental issue. There are many reports stating that the cork tree in Portugal is being over harvested.
There are many sites that explain this issue, read them and make up your own mind.
Screw caps are coming into style for freshness reasons. As I understand it the chances of getting a bad bottle with a screw cap is about 1 in 100 where it can be as high as 1 in 10 with a cork.
I think it has to do with the fact that corks can eventually start to break down whereas screw tops don't have that issue.
I used to feel the way you do - that wine should have a cork - but I've gotten used to it. Still is nice to hear that 'pop' sometimes though.