Cork vs. Screw cap, the Debate ContinuesCorks used to seal wine bottles have been the standard for centuries. Lately however, scientific studies have shown that there are better ways to seal wine bottles. Some of the methods include screw caps & synthetic stoppers. So far, all have met with various hurdles to climb. Some hurdles are political, some are cultural and some are driven by tradition. Arguments to support each closure abound. Here are some of the scientific findings so far. Of course, because some French wines are aged for many years, study results are yet to come in.Starting with the traditional cork closure, some issues that come into play are driven by the well-known “corked” bottle of wine. When a wine has a musty smell, it’s referred to as being corked. This stems from TCA (Trichloroanisole), a substance used to sanitize the natural cork prior to bottling. It can also come from the wood barrels used in ageing. Although at the levels found in wine, it is not considered a health risk. In support of the cork, many winemakers say that the cork allows a minute amount of air in the wine, which is necessary for ageing and creating complexity in the product.Synthetic corks, now in use by many wineries, also have pros and cons. Although they support the environmental issues, (premium natural corks are becoming scarce), consumers complain that they are difficult to remove. There are also complaints that they leave a plastic taint, which is picked up as an aroma. Their track record also has been tarnished due to their inability to keep oxidation at bay for any real length of time, significantly decreasing the shelf life of a wine and short-changing the maturing process.So, the consensus is that screw caps provide the best seal for bottled wines. Currently, the Stelvin screw cap developed and manufactured by Alcan, is the popular choice by most winemakers. Developed in concert with winemakers, it so far appears to supply significant benefits by eliminating “corked” and oxidation problems at the same time. The only road blocks for many small producers are the cost of the equipment to change over from corks to screw caps.If the perfect closure, the screw cap, could overcome the stigma that it is associated with inexpensive wines, and keep intact the drama and romance of opening the bottle, it will be well worth the sacrifice to always get consistent aging, flavor and freshness. So the next time you are wine shopping, don’t let the screw cap turn you away. Some of the world’s finest wine producers are now using them on their premium wines.
