When screw cap closures were first introduced to wines, the debate was whether to cork or to cap. Winemakers and consumers alike perceived corked wines to be of a better quality when in fact it was the screw cap that allowed the product to maintain a higher standard as well as offer more convenience. As such, the screw cap has eliminated many of the complications experienced with corks (natural and synthetic, [Status]) and is keeping both the packaging and enjoyment of sophisticated red and white wines, an unsophisticated process. For these reasons, Nampak Closure’s dynamic screw cap is fast becoming the wine bottle closure of choice for many leading wine makers and the case put forward by these dynamic aluminium ROPP closures, or screw caps, is quite literally airtight.
One key reason for the shift from cork to screw caps is that an increased amount of wine is being contaminated by cork taint, leaving the wine tasting musty and dull. The culprit for this unpleasant phenomenon, which can spoil up to one in 10 bottles, is trichloroanisole (TCA, [Status]), a compound formed when chlorine used for bleaching reacts with mould already growing in the cork.
The rules for cellaring cork closed wines and screw-capped wines also differ to a great extent. Corked wines require a more stable cellar temperature because fluctuating temperatures cause the wine to expand and contract, resulting in pressure changes within the bottle. This leads to leaks and the loss of the cork’s resilience and effectiveness over time – a problem not experienced by Nampak Closure’s screw cap. Additionally, screw caps have absolutely no requirement for humidity to maintain the seal, unlike natural cork, which requires a higher humidity to prevent it from drying out.
When it comes to storage, wines closed with Nampak Closure’s screw caps have no requirements, and can be kept upright as opposed to fussier cork closed wines, which must be laid horizontally to make certain that the cork is kept moist. And, because screw caps provide a superior seal for bottled wines, they eliminate the oxidation problem suffered by natural and synthetic corks. Additionally, the impermeable seal of the screw cap ensures that no cellar odours will be absorbed by the closure and migrate into the wine.
In addition to increasing local packaging options and quality for wine producers, Nampak Closure’s screw caps – which are designed to meet international bottleneck standards - provide considerable cost benefits, and unlike cork closures, can be recycled. With the screw cap, consumers can “unwind” and enjoy an easygoing bottle of wine that is simple to open and easy to reseal.
Screw caps from Nampak Closures also have exceptional branding benefits through the high-end printing and decorating capabilities achievable on aluminium ROPP closures. These capabilities – which often enable winemakers to improve their current branding - include top embossing, top printing and sidewall printing.
*As part of Nampak, Africa’s largest packaging company, Nampak Closures is a leading supplier of a diverse range of closures for numerous markets, including a wide range of tamper-evident aluminum screw cap closures for the wine and spirit industry.
Contact: Barry Erasmus | Tel: 021 507 8411 | E-mail <Barry.Erasmus@za.nampak.com>
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