A restaurant recently opened in my neighborhood offering wine on tap. At first, I scoffed at the idea but after a little research, I'm intrigued. There are so many positive attributes to wine on tap, namely the reduction of waste. What are your views on this subject? Can a wonderful wine taste just as good from a tap? And, is it true that bars in Europe have been serving wine on tap for a while now?
Answer From Expert Roger Bohmrich MW
The basic idea of serving wine from a larger container, barrel, or vat through a tap of some kind, either into a bottle or jug or into a glass, is a very old concept. It is still possible in some parts of Europe to go to a local winery, probably a cooperative, and fill your own container with a basic table wine. Of course, there are contemporary systems, such as Cruvinet and Enomatic, which permit restaurants to offer pours of wine from individual bottles and to keep the bottles at the right temperature, protected by inert gas. That's also the principle behind the "wine on tap" approach, which relies on a system similar to the one used for draft beer. In the case of wine, however, the gas is typically nitrogen, which pushes the wine from the keg through the line and out the tap while also keeping it fresh and free from oxidation. The kegs can be kept chilled, so white wines can be served cold. Maintaining reds at a good service temperature (not too warm) may be more of a problem in some situations. There is no question that wines on tap can be of good quality, provided they are sourced with care and quality control at all stages, from winery to glass, is not compromised. It certainly makes it easier if the restaurant is closer to the source, although there are many variations on the supply formula. The major advantages are, first, cost, since the consumer should be able to get a better quality wine for less; and, second, the significantly lower carbon footprint and related savings in bottles, capsules, closures, recycling and transportation (particularly if the wine is purchased locally).
