Screwcaps vs 'ancient technology
17 April 2006

From Tim Holst

It must be at least 30 years since high quality screwcap closures such as Stelcap; Stelvin etc became freely available on the international market. It is easy to understand why there was resistance to their replacing cork in the ‘early days’, but there now exists so much evidence supporting their superiority over the traditional cork closure that I remain truly amazed at the reticence of the major players in the SA wine industry to move towards screw-cap closures in a big way.

The age-old chestnuts ‘the general wine consumer is not ready for it’ or ‘the general wine consumer does not understand the benefits’ keep on being bandied about. Yeah, I heard that 25 odd years ago and nothing has changed.

A whole new generation of potential wine lovers has in the meanwhile grown to maturity and are in the process of producing the next generation of potential wine lovers. Lets hope they are not raised in blissful ignorance and will reap the benefit of what is now already ‘ancient’ technology.

I need to ask, ‘What has the South African wine industry done over the past quarter of a century to enlighten the general wine consumer as to the benefits of screw-cap closures?’ I certainly cannot recall anything that stands out in my memory. To those who have embraced screw-caps I say, ‘Cheers – you are a beacon of light in the wilderness’, to the rest ‘Please catch a wake up before I am to old to enjoy my daily glass or two or three or more!’