Thread: Wine Question

I enjoy some of the Australian wines sold in Thailand. A brand I have been buying has started using a metal screw down top as opposed to the standard and traditional cork.

Back in the day it was the nasty cheap stuff likes Boonesfarm and Night Train that was subjected to this top of seal.

It this a matter of cork being pricey and less of it available for use in wine tops ?

"Modern wine screw caps are highly engineered pieces of packaging technology, developed over many years to do the job that corks seem to do only imperfectly. That job is quite simple: to keep the wine inside the bottle and to seal out the air. For a while, some tried to turn cork's deficient sealing capability into a strength, arguing that a slight amount of air exchange is necessary for aging. However, it is now generally agreed that wine is naturally bottled with enough air dissolved in the liquid to permit it to mellow with age. Even if that were not so, modern screw tops are so precise that the winemaker can adjust the tightness of the seal to allow more or less outside air to enter, without the risk of cork taint."

Screw Tops: Get Used to Them (washingtonpost.com)

Yep there has been a lot of work over tha last 10 years developing different alternative closures and to replace cork.

I totally agree with Thetyim's explanation. Were you employed by Southcorp as well Thety?

Plus it is a damn site easier to get off inside a brown paper bag when your hands are cold.
Just keep drinking it and someday you will find out.

^ ^
Nope
I just googled it

Originally Posted by Ghandi

I enjoy some of the Australian wines sold in Thailand. A brand I have been buying has started using a metal screw down top as opposed to the standard and traditional cork.

Back in the day it was the nasty cheap stuff likes Boonesfarm and Night Train that was subjected to this top of seal.

It this a matter of cork being pricey and less of it available for use in wine tops ?

Originally Posted by Thetyim

"Modern wine screw caps are highly engineered pieces of packaging technology, developed over many years to do the job that corks seem to do only imperfectly. That job is quite simple: to keep the wine inside the bottle and to seal out the air. For a while, some tried to turn cork's deficient sealing capability into a strength, arguing that a slight amount of air exchange is necessary for aging. However, it is now generally agreed that wine is naturally bottled with enough air dissolved in the liquid to permit it to mellow with age. Even if that were not so, modern screw tops are so precise that the winemaker can adjust the tightness of the seal to allow more or less outside air to enter, without the risk of cork taint."

Screw Tops: Get Used to Them (washingtonpost.com)

Great reply , thanks very much ....


Waiting for out next opportunity to crack this bottle with a nice Thai seafood dinner.

Corks are an anachronism, their only value is emotional. Apart from the expense and lesser reliability, the world is running low on decent cork. Stelvin closures, or 'Screwtops' are a much more reliable sealant, cheaper, and much easier to open and reseal the bottle. I'm sure that cork bark will be used less and less frequently for sealing tomorrows wines- it does make a nice floor tile however.

Like the wine cask, the stelvin closure was developed on Oz.

I forget the figure but somewhere in the region of 2% of bottles get cork taint.
That's quite a few dollars being poured down the drain every year.
Consumer perception will eventually change but I think I will always miss the moment in the restaurant when the waiter pops the cork.
Maybe they could be trained to make a popping noise to keep folks like me happy

Originally Posted by Thetyim

Maybe they could be trained to make a popping noise to keep folks like me happy

What a great new invention Thety!

I'll develop a new closure which gives off a huge pop when it opens and patent it under the name of the "Thetyim Plug"!

When I make millions I'll send you some sample closures................................. fitted in some "Grange Hermitage" bottles!

Originally Posted by Thetyim

Consumer perception will eventually change but I think I will always miss the moment in the restaurant when the waiter pops the cork. Maybe they could be trained to make a popping noise to keep folks like me happy

Download the Champagne cork pop ringtone, then you can get happy whenever you want.

How about one of those tacky devices concealed in some birthday cards.
It could play Happy Birthday and then make a popping noise.

Last year I bought a bottle of wine in Switzerland and it comes with something I had never seen before. It's glass.






It's called Vino-lock. CSI: América del Sur: Productos y serviciosVino LokAr Link in spanish language.

Southcorp no longer exist, bought out by Fosters.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

Were you employed by Southcorp as well Thety?

Originally Posted by sabang

Corks are an anachronism, their only value is emotional.

Emotional to the wine snobs I would think. Agree with all above. Modern wine closures are better and cheaper than cork. Corking good idea!

Originally Posted by kingwilly

Southcorp no longer exist, bought out by Fosters. Quote: Originally Posted by Loy Toy Were you employed by Southcorp as well Thety?

I'm aware of that Willy........... in fact in 1997 they were going to buy our Bangkok company and then the financial melt down happened and they backed out.

They have since sold all their non-wine businesses to Visy in Australia and I am a little surprised they sold all their wine brands to Fosters. The last time I spoke with one of the big Southcorp bosses there was no way they were going to sell that business off.
I suppose the shareholders are happy they did sell now!