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Alternative wine closures

Synthetic corks

A synthetic cork is designed to look and function like natural cork

Synthetic corks are made from plastic compounds designed to look and “pop” like natural cork, but without the risk of TCA contamination. Disadvantages of some wine synthetic corks include a risk of harmful air entering a bottle after only 18 months, as well as the difficulty in extracting them from the bottle and using the plastic cork to reseal the wine. James Laube of Wine Spectator notes that some can also impart a slight chemical flavour to the wine.

Unlike natural corks, many wine synthetic corks are made from material that is not biodegradable but recyclable as either #4 or #7 (see resin identification code) in many communities. There are two main production techniques for synthetic wine closures: injection molding and extrusion (mono- and co-). Methods also exist which are claimed to combine the two techniques of injection and extrusion. A 2007 study by Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2 University showed that injection molded synthetic corks allowed the highest levels of oxygen permeation in when compared to natural cork and screw caps, offering the lowest protection against oxidation of the wine. A new generation of injection molded synthetic closures have developed a system of nano-cells as to perfectly replicate the cellular structure of natural cork and by exactly duplicating the permeability values of the top-quality-one-piece natural corks.,

Screw caps

Main article: Screwcap

Stelvin cap, disassembled

Screw caps or “Stelvin caps” are closures made only from aluminium material that threads onto the bottleneck. They are the predominant closure used by New Zealand wineries. This can be attributed in part to the New Zealand screw cap initiative which promotes the use of screw caps instead of cork. Screw caps form a tighter seal and can keep out oxygen for a longer time than cork. These benefits aid in maintaining the wine’s overall quality and aging potential. Michel Laroche of Domaine Laroche noted that this played a role in his decision to adopt screwcaps. “Extensive quality tests show convincing results: apart from protecting against cork taint, screwcaps are also beneficial in the aging of wine, particularly preserving the aromatic freshness.”

An often cited contradiction is the case of experiments carried out by Chteau Haut-Brion in the 1970s, when 100 bottles were placed under screwcap for long term observation. The result was, according to Haut-Brion manager Jean-Bernard Delmas, that “it worked perfectly for the first ten years, until the plastic in the caps went brittle and let air in”.

A disadvantage of screw caps according to wine expert Jancis Robinson is the opposite of oxidation, reduction, which may suppress a wine’s aroma and possibly cause unpleasant ones, a problem that particularly affects Sauvignon blanc which is a grape variety with natural tendencies toward reduction. Furthermore there is the screwcap’s public image, as “consumers still perceive screwcaps as being for ‘cheap’ wines (regardless of the price tag)”.

In a 2004 study of consumer opinions conducted by the wine consulting firm Wine Intelligence found that nearly 52% of American consumers and 60% of British consumers reject the idea of using screwcaps for their fine wine. The 2007 Victor Segalen University study in Bordeaux showed that screw caps closures allowed the lowest amount of oxygen permeation when compared to natural and synthetic corks, offering the highest level of protection against oxidation of the wine.

Following studies by the faults clinic at the International Wine Challenge in September 2006, it became widely reported in British newspapers that test results show that one in 50 screwcap bottles, 200,000 bottles worldwide, may be affected by the chemical process sulphidisation, resulting in a flaw in which a consumer would be “confronted with the reek of sulphur – likened to burning rubber or rotten eggs – rather than an attractive bouquet”. Jamie Goode presented arguments against reports he described to “represent the science of closures badly, are filled with inaccuracies and misunderstandings, and do not serve the wine industry well”, and addressed the inaccuracies in specific points.

Vino-Seal

Glass-Stopper compared with corkstopper

Vino-Seal, or Vino-Lok, is a plastic/glass closure released by Alcoa. Since its introduction into the European market in 2003, over 300 wineries have utilized Vino-Seal. Using a glass stopper with an inert o-ring, the Vino-Seal creates a hermetic seal that prevents oxidation and TCA contamination. A disadvantage with the Vino-Seal is the relatively high cost of each plug (70 cents each) and cost of manual bottling due to the lack of compatible bottling equipment outside of Europe. The design has won a Worldstar Award for Packing Excellence from the World Packaging Organization.

Zork

A bottle of wine sealed with a Zork

Invented by Conor McKenna and developed by John Brooks in Adelaide, South Australia, Zork is an alternative wine closure that seals like a screw cap and pops like a cork. The Zork closure consists of three parts; an outer cap providing a tamper evident clamp that locks onto the European CETIE band of a standard cork mouth bottle, an inner metal foil which provides an oxygen barrier similar to a screw cap, and an inner plunger which creates the op on extraction and reseals after use.

Crown caps

Crown cap closure on a sparkling wine.

The traditional crowned bottle cap has been used in the sparkling wine industry as a closure during the bottle fermentation process (mthode traditionnelle). Normally the cap is replaced with a cork before shipping, though recently some producers are releasing wines using the crown cap as their closure. The crown caps provide a tight seal without risking cork-taint. Although easier to open, crown caps eliminate part of the ceremony and mystique of opening a sparkling wine.

Opposition

There is continuing opposition to the use of alternative closures in some parts of the winemaking industry. In March 2006, the Spanish government outlawed the use of alternative wine closures in 11 of Spain’s wine producing regions as part of their (Denominacion de Origen) D.O. regulations.

Opposition due to the environmental impact of synthetic stoppers is also growing, because synthetic stoppers are not as biodegradable as cork, but the main reason is that cork ‘farms’ have great biodiversity and some of the species are unique to cork-growing areas, however with the commercial demand for cork reduced, many of these farms are being removed to grow more profitable crops.

See also

Box wine

Storage of wine

Screw cap (wine)

Cork material

Footnotes

^ Shriver, Jerry, USA Today (August 3, 2006). And now for something completely different

^ Business Wire (August 9, 2005). ‘Just Say No’ To Cork! Don Sebastiani & Sons Announces Plans to Focus Exclusively on Alternative Wine Closures

^ Goode, Jamie, Ph.D. Wines & Vines (August 2008). “Finding Closure”. http://www.winesandvines.com/template.cfm?content=57269&section=features. 

^ a b Laube, James, Wine Spectator (March 31, 2006). Changing With the Times

^ Robinson, Jancis, jancisrobinson.com (June 10, 2006). “Down with synthetic corks!”. http://www.jancisrobinson.com/winenews/winenews060610. 

^ a b c Kramer, Matt, Wine Spectator (October 31, 2007). Seeking Closure p. 36

^ Sole 24 Ore (September 10, 2008)

^ Ciampa, Gail, The Providence Journal (August 2, 2006). Don’t get caught without your wine notes

^ a b Lechmere, Adam, Decanter.com (May 30, 2002). “Kiwis spread the screwcap gospel”. http://www.decanter.com/news/46395.html. 

^ South African Wine News (July 26, 2006). The Winery goes out to bat for screwcaps

^ a b Robinson, Jancis, jancisrobinson.com (June 11, 2004). “Will our grandchildren need a corkscrew?”. http://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/winenews0612. 

^ a b Robinson, Jancis, jancisrobinson.com (June 29, 2006). “Zork talk”. http://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/winenews060629.html. 

^ APCOR, realcork.org Wine Intelligence- Closures: The US Consumer View

^ Alleyne, Richard, The Daily Telegraph (September 20, 2006). “Screwcaps blamed for tainting wine”. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1529240/Screwcaps-blamed-for-tainting-wine.html. 

^ Elliott, Valerie, The Times (January 16, 2007). “Why screwtops may not be such a corking way to keep red wine fine”. London. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/article1293327.ece. 

^ The Daily Mail (January 15, 2007). “Experts raise a stink over screw-top wine bottles”. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-429023/Experts-raise-stink-screw-wine-bottles.html. 

^ Goode, Jamie, wineanorak.com (January 19, 2007). “In defence of screwcaps”. http://www.wineanorak.com/screwcap_defence.htm. 

^ Perdue, Andy, Wine Press Northwest (Summer 2006). “Glass adds class to Oregon Wine”

^ Packwire.com[dead link]

^ wineaustrailia.com[dead link]

^ Caputo, Tina, Wines & Vines (May 2004). Alternative closures for sparkling wine

^ Business Wire (March 27, 2006). “Put a Cork in It” Says New Spanish Law; Spain’s Top Wine Producers Outlaw Alternative Closures in 11 Spanish Regions

^ BBC News (Sep. 18, 2008). Urging vintners to put a cork in it

External links

New Zealand Screw Cap Initiative official site

“The History and Revival of Screwcaps” Wine of the Week webzine

Categories: Wine packaging and storageHidden categories: All articles with dead external links | Articles with dead external links from December 2008
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