The Wine Curmudgeon

Screw caps: A better way to enclose wine

The Wine Curmudgeon loves screw caps. And screw tops. And Stelvin closures. Call it whatever you want -- just don't call it a cork.

I mention this not because screw caps are embattled, because they're not. The closures are accepted today as never before, whether it's a New Zealand sauvignon blanc, a white Burgundy, or even a high-end Napa cabernet sauvignon. And almost every winemaker I interview who doesn't use screw caps wants to, citing their efficiency and reliability.

After the bottle: Trends in wine packaging, part II

This is the second of two parts looking at what's new with wine packaging. Part I, an overview of what's happening and why, is here.

These are the leading styles of new wine packaging:

After the bottle: Trends in wine packaging

This is the first of a two-part look at what's new with wine packaging. On Monday, I'll look in more detail about what might replace glass bottles.

Be prepared for some big changes in the way wine is packaged, and that doesn't mean more screwtops. 

Yes, most wine is still sold in a traditional glass bottle with a traditional cork. But more wines are going to be packaged in more ways, odd though they may seem, over next couple or years – single-serve bottles, juice boxes, and even plastic and aluminum bottles.