Wine Tops

Cork vs Screw Cap

Whilst some people seek out screw caps for the convenience they offer, there is a common assumption among our customers that screw caps signify a lower quality wine. Here at the Naked Grape we regularly present a potential customer with one of our amazing bottles only to have it rejected on the basis that it is not a cork stopper.

Corks have been used to stop wine since the 1700s. They reliably contain the wine in the bottle, expanding and contracting within a relatively broad range of temperatures, making it durable. Importantly, corks also allow micro-oxygenation of the wine, helping to smooth out tannins and develop the flavours over time. Cork is also a sustainable product. The trees from which the cork is harvested benefit, extending their lifespan, and the cork itself is fully compostable and biodegradable. All of these are very good reasons for corks continuing popularity in the wine industry. People also enjoy the ritual of removing the cork - the skill involved and that satisfying ‘pop’! as it comes out – it can make the wine feel more like an occasion!

On the negative side however, corks are also very expensive and add considerably to the cost of wine. They are also a limited resource and are responsible for the, approximately, 3% of wines that are affected by cork taint.

So with this in mind, what are the pros and cons of screw caps and prosthetic cork?

Screw caps were introduced into the wine industry in the mid 60’s and from the 80s onwards they have gained considerable ground within the industry. They generally do not allow ingress of oxygen (although new technologies are changing this), which preserves the flavours of the wine and keeps the aromas fresh and fruit forward, but obviously this means that the effects of oxygenation will not develop within a wine. There is also no possibility of cork taint and they are considerably cheaper to produce, a saving which can get passed on to the consumer. However, they are made from non-renewable resources and whilst they are recyclable, they are not at all biodegradable and this is dependent on their correct disposal after use. 

What we’re getting at here, is that it is not at all as simple as high-end equals cork and cheap equals screw cap. When you are buying wine consider what you are buying it for. Is the wine you are considering a wine that you intend to keep for a few years before drinking or is it Friday and you’re looking forward to a few glasses while you watch ‘Death in Paradise’?! Is the wine one that will have benefited from some ageing in the bottle or is it the newest vintage and meant to be drunk immediately? Some wines are meant to be drunk young and fresh and a screw cap will help preserve those fresh, fruity flavours.

With this in mind, how about giving some of these wines a go!

Abbaye

Loire Valley

Sauvignon Blanc

2024

£13.99

Simon Says: “Sancerre in everything but name. Classy, fine fresh palate, crisp and refreshing”

Tor del Colle

Montepulciano d’Abbruzzo, Italy

Pecorino

2024

£15.25

Simon Says: “A gorgeous example, so ripe and fresh with a mouthfilling citrus ripeness. Very fine”

Coreto Tinto

Lisboa, Portugal

2023

£13.49

Caladoc, Alicante Bouschet, Castelao, Pinot Noir, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional

Simon Says: “Superb mature nose, violet oak, jammy with a juicy fruit driven palate”

Chateau Lanessan

Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot

2018

£27.50

Simon Says: “A Complex and elegant haut-Médoc. Tasting beautiful right now with the most complex fruit assemblage I’ve tasted in a few years”

Doolhof Limietberg

Wellington, South Africa

Cabernet Franc

2020

£33.99

Simon Says: “amazing power and black colour. It’s very rare to find a wine with such layering. Fantastic wine.”