Put a Cork in it!
Brandon MarcThe debate regarding screw caps versus the traditional cork is not a new one. In fact, it annoys me how people seem to think the matter is absolute and that there must be a single correct answer. It depends on so many different factors that one cannot possibly do away with the one and only depend on the other. So what are we supposed to do? When does it matter? Does it matter? I thought I’d save you the trouble and take this opportunity to lay the facts on the table:
1. Approximately 5-10% of cork-sealed wine is spoiled.
2. Screw caps are considerably cheaper than natural cork.
3. Cork has been used for more than 400 years to seal wine bottles.
4. It is easier to open a bottle of wine with a screw cap in comparison to the cork-sealed variety.
5. Whether we like it or not, the action of opening a cork-sealed bottle of wine has a certain appeal, that can’t be matched by the twist-off action of the screw cap.
I think, for the abovementioned reasons, that depending on whether you are a consumer, producer or supplier, your preference would differ somewhat. If I were a producer, I’d favour screw caps in order to cut costs, but also understand that there is still a healthy market that desires cork-sealed bottles. As a supplier, I’d be more concerned with wine being spoiled and therefore screw caps would be desirable. And, as a consumer such as myself, I’d prefer the choice of either. I cringe at the thought of making a toast at a friend’s wedding initiated by the twist-off action of a screw cap. However, I feel that the screw cap is most practical and would be quite comfortable using screw caps at most other occasions.
So, to all those skeptics out there, I say…’Put a Cork in it!’ Or a screw cap, whichever you prefer.
Cheers!
Brandon Marc
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Comments
NIck G (Who am I?) There’s nothing worse than going for a picnix with a bottle of wine, only to find that you’ve forgotten the bottle-opener at home. For that reason, I prefer screw-caps. If any of my party feel that its cheap, I’ll invite them to bring the wine next time and I’ll quote the fact that 5-10% of corked wine is spoiled, something I learnt from you. Thanks bonz!
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Brandon Marc (Who am I?) Haha! But it must be said that it is possible for screw cap sealed wine to be ‘corked’… but quite rare.
Brandon Marc
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You say screw caps are cheaper but it is not as simple as that, there are cheap screwcaps and cheap corks and expensive screwcaps and expensive corks. Don’t forget the cost of adding a screwcap closer on the bottling line and the cost of the bottles, of which there are a more limited range.
As for Whether we like it or not, the action of opening a cork-sealed bottle of wine has a certain appeal - speak for yourself. Once you’ve got used to screwcaps you will come to really dislike corks, finding ab opener, struggling with the stickers and the crumblers and then that moment when you check to see if the wine is spoiled by the cork. And as for toasts — c’mon, surely the bottle opened first either way and theclosure makes no difference to the toast. It sounds to me that scewcaps are still a novelty.
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Brandon Marc (Who am I?) Thank you for your comment Peter.
As I mentioned in my post there is no correct answer, it’s just a matter of personal taste and your personal needs.
I stand by my opinion and still enjoy the ‘ceremony’ (as awkward as it can be!) in opening a cork-sealed bottle of wine.
And I suppose in the end, however the bottle is opened, we’re all drinking the same marvellous product - Wine!
Cheers!
Brandon Marc
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I just hope that the cork will be with us for the next 400 years… The screw cap has never appealed to me….A fun article nonetheless!