| Since the introduction of the screw top closure | | | | invest more in technology, but we believe that |
| onto wine bottles, the debate about cork and | | | | the real top end of wines online will remain in cork |
| screw tops has raged among the advocates and | | | | because of the perceived increased value. Some |
| the traditionalists. The debate has not gotten any | | | | brands just below top end have moved into |
| less heated over recent years, but have | | | | screw caps but again these have been new world |
| consumer habits changed? | | | | rather than old world. It seems that French wine |
| New world wine producers led the way when it | | | | may well be the last country to adopt the |
| came to investing in screw top application | | | | change, but perhaps they never will across top |
| machines. Australian and South African vineyards | | | | end wines. |
| were some of the first. Old world wines such as | | | | In two years time those brands that had intended |
| French wines believed it would only be short lived, | | | | to move into screw top will have and then there |
| but the consumer has voted with their wallet. | | | | will be two different categories, but we believe |
| Today the screw top has become accepted by | | | | most online wine consumers are ambivalent now |
| the majority of online wine drinkers for many | | | | to the change for white and rose wines. Red |
| reasons. The primary reason is the abundance of | | | | wines are perhaps different as their richness and |
| screw tops used with online wine brands. The | | | | multiple flavour dimensions of the wine lend |
| second reason is the perception of increased | | | | themselves better to a cork. |
| quality, i.e the belief that cork wines have a higher | | | | There is a problem with online wine shopping as |
| probability of being corked which can be an urban | | | | unlike bricks and mortar retail the consumer finds |
| myth. The third reason is convenience as a screw | | | | it difficult to differentiate from a picture if the |
| top, especially for white and rose wines online | | | | brand has a screw or cork. To help with this |
| offers the ability to drink from the bottle across | | | | some online wine merchants state on the wine |
| multiple occasions during the week. | | | | description the application. |
| There is no real difference between screw top | | | | So if you are a screw top or a cork fan you can |
| and cork, albeit the occasion of popping a great | | | | be secure in the knowledge that your choice is |
| bottle of wine and smelling the cork. It is this ritual | | | | the right choice for you and your wine that you |
| that makes the cork application unique and | | | | have chosen online will be divine. For those of you |
| historically rich. To some this ritual is so important | | | | who just don't care then you are the lucky ones. |
| that screw tops are perceived as very low | | | | Maybe in the near future technology may again |
| quality. | | | | advance the closure after all there is a cork and a |
| The growth of screw will continue as vineyards | | | | plastic cork. Only time will tell, enjoy your wine. |