Cap versus Cork

Australian and New Zealand winemakers have learned that something as natural as a wine cork sliced off a cork tree can sometimes contain a foul-smelling and tasting taint that can harm wine.

These two countries have decided that the aluminum screw cap is here to stay.

Back in 2001, the Clare Valley Riesling makers in South Australia were angry about the level of cork taint turning up in their wines, especially in Riesling. Cork taint was occurring at a rate estimated somewhere between seven and 12 per cent in wines.

The Clare Riesling producers went out on a limb and changed to aluminum screw cap and were followed by more than 40 equally angry New Zealand winemakers. That's when powerful supermarket chains in the United Kingdom came on board. They saw that cork taint was ruining the wine experience and that screw caps give a 100 per cent guarantee against cork taint. Soon, supermarkets put the pressure on their suppliers to make the change.

And the rest is drinking history!