Why have most Australian winemakers switched to twist caps on wine bottles away from traditional cork?

Question

Doest that affect the quality of the wine in the long run?
Does that mean these wine bottles can be kept vertically? (no need to 'keep the cork wet')

Answer 1

This is a area of great contention in the wine world.

The reason over 70% of all New Zealand wines and a large number of Australian wines are closed with a screwcap is because the wine makers were fed up of their wines being spoiled by cork. 5% or more of all wines closed with cork are 'corked' - in other words they are spoiled by something known as TCA, short name of a chloroanisole called 2,4,6-trichloroanisole.

Does it affect quality in the long term? That is the big question about which there is no consensus. By long term we mean 10 years plus. 95% of all wine is drunk iwthing a year of purchase, indeed something like 50% of all wine is drunk within 1 hour of purchase.

So we are talking about fine wines meant for long storage. Cork lovers say that the cork allows a minute quantity of air into thebottle over time and that is essential to aging. Screwcap lovers say that wines aged 20+ years under screwcap taste better and fresherthan the same wine undercork - and 5% of those under cork are spoiled anyway.

You can keep the bottle under screwcap upright.

Some here have said the reason people are changingto screwcap is because itis cheaper - but thatis not so. WIneries have to upgrade their bottling lines to do screwcapping and they are limited in the bottles they can buy because there are fewer with a thread at the top.

Some have mentioned artificial 'plastic' corks. Where there is continious development of these, so far they have not proved ideal since they lose elasticity over a couple of years, letting in air which spoild the wine. Also they are difficult to remove and almost impossible to put back in.

Screw caps are good. They are easy to remove and put back, you don't need a corkscrew and you taste the wine inside without any cork taint.

The simple answer to your question is because screwcaps are better.

Answer 2

I know the cork vs. twist debate has been raging for a while. Personally, I prefer the cork because I am a traditionalist, i don't like change, and it is a little showier. However there are some points to the twist cap which are beneficial such as the wine quality isn't directly affected, but with a twist cap, the wine keeps longer once opened. Also as you say the bottles can be kept vertically. I understand it may also be cheaper and more hygenic.

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Answer 3

On wines that won't be stored for very long the twist cap saves money (cork is expensive). It's also more convenient for the casual consumer who may not have a proper seal for the wine once the cork is removed.

Answer 4

It eliminates, or greatly reduces the chance that you wine will be "corked." If you have ever had a bottle of "corked" wine, it is like drinking modeling glue. Horrible taste. You can type in corked wine on the internet and get a better scientific explanation, but believe me when I say it is nasty.

Answer 5

Wine makers all over the world have gotten fed up with wine spoilage from defective corks. Some have switched to screw caps, others to synthetic corks; none are as esthically satisfying as real cork, but wine prices are high enough without having to subsidize unnecessary spoilage.

Answer 6

Apparently the trees which produce cork are in short supply in the world. Also more people do not store wine anymore but rather drink it straight away. They are therefore using twist caps for fast selling products .

Answer 7

Corks have nothing to do with the flavour of wine. It was expedient to use them in the old days, and just a tradition now.
I believe wines should be kept horizontal and turned occationally regardless of what sort of top they have. I think it has something to do with the settling of certain components in the wine.

Answer 8

I've read that the growing trend is use plastic seals instead of corks - it is superior in many ways. I've never had to worry about keeping the cork wet - it doesn't stay unopened for too very long!

Answer 9

WHy would cork add to quality??

Seriously, think about that.

Also the plastic ones are easier to get out and when they are old bottles in 20 years, they won't crumble. Also it is safer, as cork is not guarabnteed to be airtight.

Also recorking is now much easier

Answer 10

It's cheaper, and makes it easy for storage. Those bottles, are generally for drinking quickly, at a party or something of that nature, not to be stored for long periods of time.
California wine companies, have been doing that for years, mostly on the cheaper wines. Still tasty though.