When the screw cap stormed the market, wine producers and lovers were quite skeptical about its suitability for the industry. Wine lovers have sort of grown accustomed to the cork closures which have been used for generations. Many wine producers have for years debated on the merits of using screw caps in place of the good old cork due to the cork-tainting that many wine producers are now quite familiar with. But the advantages of the screw caps in stoppering the wine bottles now outweigh the skepticism.
If wine will be stored for months before it is sold or consumed, then it is best that it is not corked in order to prevent the risks of cork-tainting which can also taint the reputation of the wine producer or retailer. Buyers will not blame cork-tainting. They will simply blame the retail store or the brand for selling bad wine so it is important for wine producers to give very careful consideration on the type of stoppers that they will use for their wines. Screw caps offer a significant advantage even though they might not be as “brandable” as cork which comes with a brand value. But there is a growing trend where even consumers are undergoing a mindset change and slowly embracing wines that are not necessarily corked.
The Advantages of Using Screw Caps
Screw cap has its place as good wine bottle closures. High-quality red wines should be sealed with high grade corks that allow the wine to age and breathe well. Sealing with screw caps could be economically viable for commercial wines as many of these wines are produced to be consumed while still fresh. Wine lovers are increasingly opting for the capped wine bottles because it is more convenient to twist the cap off than to mess around with a corkscrew and foil cutter.
Screw cap forms a tight seal that doesn’t allow passage of gas and eliminates the cork taint problem. Wine producers who are keen on preserving the quality of wine now use screw caps.
Another advantage of a screw cap is that it provides a perfect seal with diverse types of liners. In the past, the ultra-tight seal of the screw caps was thought to cause reduction or hydrogen sulphide (rotten egg smell) in wines but this myth has now been dispelled.