Three closure tales
An aspect of wine bottle closures that is seldom discussed is there ability to protect the wine in less than ideal storage conditions.
I had a chance to compare the effectiveness of three different wine closures after a container of German riesling was affected by heat in transit to New Zealand.
The importer air-freighted control samples for comparison with wines in the container which were sealed with cork, Vinolock and screwcap. To see how each closure performed, read on.
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| Corks have a remarkable ability to form a tight seal in bottlenecks with variable internal diameters. (Photo: First for women website) |
Cork
Bottles are made by putting a blob of glass in a mould then blowing air into it so the molten glass splatters to the outside of the mould and forms a bottle which is perfect on the outside but can be misshapen on the inside. Corks have a remarkable ability to form a tight seal in bottlenecks with variable internal diameters. Squeeze a cork and it doesn’t ooze out the other way, it tries to spring back to its original shape.
On the downside, when wine heats up and expands it puts pressure on the cork and will eventually start to force its way out of the bottle. When the wine cools down it can draw air into the bottle. Too much air and the wine may become oxidised and unsaleable.
The German riesling under cork showed clear signs of leakage and oxidation. It was unsaleable.
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| Vinoloks are easy to remove and reseal with a satisfying click. (Photo: DuPont website) |
Vinolok
Vinolok (also sold as Vino-Seal) is a sexy little glass stopper with an inert O-ring. It claims to create a hermetic seal that prevents oxidation. My experience with Vinolok has been very positive. They are easy to remove and reseal with a satisfying click. They are relatively expensive to buy and to package, although in my view they enhance the overall bottle presentation and look smarter than a screwcap.
When compared with control samples, the heat-affected Vinolok-sealed wines from the container did show some deterioration, although they were better than the wines under cork.
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| Screwcaps are the obvious choice if the wine is likely to be exposed to poor storage conditions. (Photo: Drinks Business Website) |
Screwcap
We could find no difference between the heat-affected and control samples. It is possible that the heat-affected wines may not cellar as well as the control samples, but that is sheer speculation and there was no evidence of any deterioration.
If that experience is a reliable indicator of closure resistance to heat, then screwcaps are the obvious choice if the wine is likely to be exposed to poor storage conditions. It is ironic that Asian countries around the equator, where heat damage can be a real issue, tend to have a conservative attitude toward closures, with many wine retailers preferring corks.
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To keep your wine safe in transit regardless of closure type, remember that Golden Gate Wine Cellars offers Temperature Controlled shipping to select destinations during the hot summer months. With winter fast approaching though, cold can be just as damaging. Hot or cold. we can store your wine for you free of charge and ship it out when conditions are safe. Call for details! 415-337-4083