Wine Writer Information Blog

9:03 PM

2008 - Italian Wine

A Italian Wine Artilce for Your Viewing

Screwcaps For Wine - Is It Bye-Bye To The Romance?



Maybe you've noticed screwcaps on more of the higher priced wines lately. The trend is continuing to grow and so is the debate of whether a screwcap or cork is better for wine. The industry has basically "agreed to disagree" as to whether wine bottled with a screwcap or a cork tastes better, ages better and has less of a tendency to spoil.


As more wineries consider using screwcaps instead of the traditional cork, one has to wonder how the public at large will accept the change in tradition. When the occasional wine drinker sees a $20 bottle of wine with a screwcap, will he move to the next bottle on the shelf because he conjuring thoughts in his mind of his college years and Boones Farm Apple Wine?


Corks hold tradition and romance for a bottle of wine. It's hard to imagine dining at a fine eating establishment and ordering a bottle of wine without expecting the waiter pull out his corkscrew. Watching him carefully cut the foil, masterfully twist the screw into the cork, and giving it a pull with a final, ever so slight, pop, is part of what we pay for when we order a bottle of wine. It's shear romance; it's a moment we hold in our memory of a nice dining experience.


Why would a winery want to change an age-old tradition that holds so much charm? Well, apparently the occurrence of wines being spoiled because of the cork is a fairly large problem. One report from the International Wine Challenge, the world's largest wine competition, states that nearly one in 20 bottles, or 4.9% of the 11,033 bottles opened at that competition had spoiled or the flavor had been flattened because of the cork.


How is the cork responsible for the ruin of so much wine? Cork is a tree bark and when wine corks are manufactured, chlorine bleach is used for cleaning and brightening the color. When the bleach comes in contact with the natural molds that are present in the cork, a reaction occurs and a chemical called trichloroanisole (TCA) is produced. If this chemical comes in contact with the wine, it will cause it to taste like damp cardboard. When this happens the wine is then referred to as being "corked", and it is undrinkable.


Screwcaps have proven themselves to be a better alternative to cork. First developed in Australia, the brand name for screwcaps used for wine is Stelvin, so you will often hear them referred to as such. These caps are not the same as those used for food and drink; these caps are specially designed to protect fine wines from tainting for a period of time and to allow for aging. Basically the part of the cap that actually contacts the wine is made from a thin coating of Teflon film over pure tin, this gives the cap the capability to stay stable and flavor-neutral for a very long time.


There are some screwcap critics that say the Stelvin caps don't allow for proper "breathing" so the wine can age, however, this is a myth. If a cork is perfect and works the way it is supposed to work, it will not allow air into the bottle. Actually, oxygen is potentially harmful to the wine and very unnecessary for the aging process. To quote a leading Bordeaux authority Professor Pascal Rib?reau-Gayon in the "Handbook of Enology",


"reactions that take place in bottled wine do not require oxygen".


And one more authority, Professor Emile Peynaud of Bordeaux says,


"it is the opposite of oxidation, a process of reduction, or asphyxia by which wine develops in the bottle"


So, as we watch a trend develop of vintners moving toward using screwcaps we, the wine-drinking public, are just going to have to come to terms with the fact that screwcaps have proven themselves. Because of the Stelvin, we consumers will be able to enjoy better preserved and better tasting wine in the years to come. Actually, instead of thinking about moving to the next bottle on the shelf because of the screwcap, we should be seeking out the wine that delights your palate regardless of whether it uses a screwcap or not.

About the Author


David-The Wine Gift Guy loves to drink wine. Read his experiences, reviews, and recommendations at The Wine Gift Guy. Comments at the site are encouraged, stop by & help David build a great big, snob-free, wine-loving community.

A synopsis on Italian Wine.

Screwcaps For Wine - Is It Bye-Bye To The Romance?


Maybe you've noticed screwcaps on more of the higher priced wines lately. The trend is continuing to grow and so is the debate of whether a screwcap o...


Click Here to Read More About Wine ...

Italian Wine Products we recommend

Dunn Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet


"From one of California's most experienced Cabernet Sauvignon winemakers, the 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa possesses an inky/purple color as well as a restrained, but sweet bouquet of blackberries intermixed with hints of new saddle leather and crushed rocks. Firmly structured, with a steely spine, exuberant, rich fruit, and a powerful, highly tannic finish, it should be cellared for 7-8 years, and drunk over the following two decades." This dry red wine is a great gift to buy online! RP - 93 (Subject to Availability) DUVC01 DUVC01


Price: 147.99 USD



Italian Wine in the news

Christmas Gifts Ideas for Australian Expats Worldwide: New Australian Fine Wine Retailer By The Dozen Delivers Unique Christmas Gifts with Personal Touch

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:00:01 -0800

Finally over Ferran fatigue: your questions answered

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 23:51:06 -0800
I got Ferran Adria fatigue and can only now face answering those questions. It’s not as bad as my Gordon Ramsay fatigue. Anyway I’m over it now. My main task was to ask questions for other publications so not everything was answered in full. In case you missed it Adria was launching his book “A Day at elBulli” and gave a talk put on by the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. Here we go: Phil: Can I please have a reservation? No. See my rejection as well. Phil: But more seriously, I’d be keen

Win a $50 SUBWAY SUBCARD - Gloss

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:23:24 -0800
Win a $50 SUBWAY SUBCARD - Gloss by Snazzy_Jazzy Today 02:39 PM 10,087 28,792 Text to enter (2 Viewing) Competitions you enter via text Goldair Entertainment Fridge, George FM by aneeas Today 03:06 PM 92 475 Magazine & Newspaper Competitions (7 Viewing) Mail entry competitions New Idea comps 17 Nov by julie peters Today 01:11 PM 722 1,556 Shopping Competitions (14 Viewing) Store and product competitions Simply Red at Villa Maria Vin

2008 VACC Cavalcade to the Vines

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:52:56 -0800
Fancy the idea of spending some time with a whole bunch of vintage, classic and modern era cars, in one of Australia’s premier wine regions? If that sounds like you, then this coming weekend’s VACC Cars of the World ‘Cavalcade to the Vines’ should be on your list of things to do and see. “It will be a fantastic day out for families, car enthusiasts, wine buffs and lovers of art. VACC is proud to be the official sponsor of the Cars of the World event,” said Tim O’Brien, VACC General Manager,

There’s Still Room for Fresh Design When it Comes to Wine

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:01:21 -0800
I’m one of those relatively new wine drinkers that knows next-to-nothing about actual wine, but just enough to pretend that I know what I’m doing when selecting one. If I’m with a group of people who don’t usually buy wine, they defer to me. This is about as good an idea as closing one’s eyes and selecting a wine at random, but hey, I’ll take the extra responsibility. This is mainly because it lets me do that certain type of wine-browsing–you know the one–where you walk along the racks, pick

Tough terms from Tesco threaten Aus wine exports (North Queensland Register)

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:17:31 -0800
British supermarket and liquor giant Tesco is cutting 15pc of its total range over the next six months in a move that will hurt Australian wine exports, which account for 25pc of the total UK market.


Pinot Wine
|

Labels:

BlinkBitsBlinkList Add To BlogmarksCiteULike
diigo furl Google  LinkaGoGo
HOLM ma.gnolianetvouzrawsugar
reddit Mojo this page at Rojo Scuttle Smarking
spurl Squidoo StumbleUpon Tailrank
TechnoratiAddThis Social Bookmark Button
&type=page">Add to any serviceSocial Bookmark
onlywire Socializersocialize it