Screw Caps Beat Corks In Wine-bouquet Stakes

[chuchok]

21.12.05

By Simon O'Rourke

Lay down that trendy wine-bottle opener and step away from the ceremony of snobbery and showmanship.

Cork poppers may be the traditional show stoppers, but it's now the humble screw cap that's getting the best rap.

A two-year research project by the University of Auckland shows that screw caps are better than corks at preserving the fruity bouquet of New Zealand's signature sauvignon blanc wines.

The study was led by Dr Laura Nicolau, a wine science lecturer.

"We compared the aromas of bottles that had been sealed with corks and screw caps using a GCMS machine, which is a scientific instrument used to measure and analyse smells," Dr Nicolau said.

"The analysis revealed that the two fruity thiols [aromatic elements] we looked at were up to 23 per cent higher in the bottles using screw caps."

The findings are supported by Villa Maria Estate managing director George Fistonich and Michael Brajkovich of Kumeu River.

Mr Fistonich said professional tasters in his company's New Zealand, British and American markets unanimously favoured screw-capped wines over bottles with corks.

Feedback had suggested that screw-capped wines were fresher and better able to retain their varietal aromas.

Mr Brajkovich has pushed the adoption of screw caps over the past few years.

Critics say New Zealand has embraced screw caps more than any other country.

The Auckland Wine Society cellarmaster for the past 10 years, Ken Sheldrick, said even he favoured screw caps over corks.

"I'd give screw caps a nine out of 10, corks probably about five out of 10."

Mr Sheldrick said at least 10 per cent of fine wines were spoiled by poor-quality corks. "With $100 to $120 bottles, that's a fair amount."

Mt Maunganui wine drinker Russell Muir said he could think of nothing good to say about screw caps, "unless they are used for slap-and-tickle-type wines like sav blanc or riesling".

"Drinking screw-cap wine is like drinking out of a plastic wine glass."

[snoophound]

Much cheaper too

I am told the cork costs considerably more than the whole bottle.

Seeing a lot of Aussie wines with them too now.

Tastes allright to me.

21.12.05

By Simon O'Rourke

Lay down that trendy wine-bottle opener and step away from the ceremony of snobbery and showmanship.

Cork poppers may be the traditional show stoppers, but it's now the humble screw cap that's getting the best rap.

A two-year research project by the University of Auckland shows that screw caps are better than corks at preserving the fruity bouquet of New Zealand's signature sauvignon blanc wines.

The study was led by Dr Laura Nicolau, a wine science lecturer.

"We compared the aromas of bottles that had been sealed with corks and screw caps using a GCMS machine, which is a scientific instrument used to measure and analyse smells," Dr Nicolau said.

"The analysis revealed that the two fruity thiols [aromatic elements] we looked at were up to 23 per cent higher in the bottles using screw caps."

The findings are supported by Villa Maria Estate managing director George Fistonich and Michael Brajkovich of Kumeu River.

Mr Fistonich said professional tasters in his company's New Zealand, British and American markets unanimously favoured screw-capped wines over bottles with corks.

Feedback had suggested that screw-capped wines were fresher and better able to retain their varietal aromas.

Mr Brajkovich has pushed the adoption of screw caps over the past few years.

Critics say New Zealand has embraced screw caps more than any other country.

The Auckland Wine Society cellarmaster for the past 10 years, Ken Sheldrick, said even he favoured screw caps over corks.

"I'd give screw caps a nine out of 10, corks probably about five out of 10."

Mr Sheldrick said at least 10 per cent of fine wines were spoiled by poor-quality corks. "With $100 to $120 bottles, that's a fair amount."

Mt Maunganui wine drinker Russell Muir said he could think of nothing good to say about screw caps, "unless they are used for slap-and-tickle-type wines like sav blanc or riesling".

"Drinking screw-cap wine is like drinking out of a plastic wine glass."

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[dr_Pat_Pong]

I thought I'd hate the screw top but fid them to be great.

[chownah]

That's really a tough call...screw cap or cork. Each has it advantages and drawbacks.

Opening a bottle which has a cork closure can be easily understood in that intuitively you take the cork OUT of the bottle and not INto the bottle. This is easy to comprehend no matter how many bottles you have already drunk (double entendre intended). The down side to corkage is the decorking device which comes in various renditions and mechanical configurations....these can be confusing and even though you would think that practising this many times in an evening would make it easier because of the learning curve but in most people experience as the evening advances it becomes more problematic (see double entendre above).

The screw cap requires no appliance for removal...therein is its main advantage. The dark side of the screw cap is that the mechanics of removal are not straight forward but actually twisted...but which way to twist? For instance if you hold a bottle upside down and try to remove the screw cap by unscrewing it with your left hand then quickly tell me which way to go.....quickly now...what's the answer...thought so...not as easy as you thought.

I guess there is really no correct answer...some people like to screw and some people like to pull.....viva la difference.

[stumonster]

Much cheaper too

I am told the cork costs considerably more than the whole bottle.

Seeing a lot of Aussie wines with them  too now.

Tastes allright to me.

I thought I'd hate the screw top but fid them to be great.

a mixed case of clare valley whites I purchased was about half corks and half screw caps. I thought the screw caps were a great idea and didn't think there was a problem with the taste. Much better idea than fannying about with a cork screw.

[suegha]

Proper 'cork' corks assist with the bottle conditioning of the wine. Most wines drunk by most people don't need bottle coditioning - it's pure snobbery! I prefer screw tops for everyday drinking, although being a bit of a wine buff, I have several wines for the long term, some as far ahead as 2009 and they all have corks. It does depend on the wine but the vast majority would benefit from screw tops.

Edited December 21, 2005 by suegha