It’s a Sad Fact that Wineries are Avoiding Cork

For those of us who are old school, hardened wine lovers, the idea of a screwcap sends shivers down our spines.
You may as well drink boxed wine.
And yet, as you can read, problems with corks has caused many wineries to switch to the dreaded screwcap.
There have been several lawsuits over corks being tainted with TCA. Here is an article on one of them.

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Of the 18 wines, only three were suspect as to cork taint.

The judges were experts engaged by an attorney for the plaintiff to determine if they could tell which three wines had been tainted by the cork used to seal the bottles. The defendant in the civil case, a cork producer, said the wines were fine.

The case wasn’t unique. Over the last two decades, perhaps longer, many wineries have sued cork suppliers, arguing that the corks they bought were ruined by the chemical 2-4-6-trichloroanisole (otherwise called simply TCA). And a number of the wineries have won such suits.

But that’s little consolation for the wineries, whose reputations are at stake and who have little recourse if a wine is ruined by TCA, which can make a wine smell like a moldy dishrag. Such a situation could turn consumers off a brand for years.

It is for this reason that many wineries around the world (including about 95 percent of all New Zealand wineries) have switched from corks to screwcaps, and many others have switched to artificial closures, such as plastic. And we are seeing a lot more wine being packaged in boxes.

Among the reasons for these switches is to avoid cork taint.

One Sonoma County winemaker I talked with about this was angry: “Even if you buy first-quality corks (the highest grade),” he said, “we think that some cork makers throw in a small percentage of (bad) corks, just to get rid of ‘em.”
This complex topic isn’t new. The wine industry has been doing research into TCA-tainted corks for a long time, and a lot of that work has been done by the authoritative Australian Wine Research Institute.

The cork industry, largely based in Portugal and Spain, has spent a lot of money over the last decade cleaning up its act as well as promoting the benefits of natural cork. However, with both nations in financial straits, it remains to be seen if such campaigns can long survive.

Meanwhile, a growing number of U.S. wineries have switched to screwcaps. One of the first was Randall Grahm’s Bonny Doon, which now exclusively uses screwcaps for both white and red wines.

A strong proponent of screwcaps for its stellar line of white wines is the central coast region, where winemaker Christian Roguenant has made great whites under two brands, Tangent and Zocker.

A decade ago, restaurant wine service personnel were basically opposed to screwcaps since they seem rather mundane — and the ritual of removing a cork and offering a ceremonial first sip to the person ordering had been one of the service features restaurants could offer. Screwcaps changed this.

But over the last few years, most restaurant personnel have changed their minds and now applaud the screwcap, since it has done away with the question, “Is the wine corked?” The question now need not be asked.

As for the court case we mentioned above, chances are the public will never find out about it.

“Many times, such cases are settled out of court,” said one wine maker. “No one wins if it becomes public.”

Like it or not, the days of having to find a waiter’s corkscrew is almost over.
It is my belief that it won’t be too far in the future that screwcaps will be the norm with most wineries.

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Article: It’s a sad fact that wineries are avoiding cork
Article Source: PressDemocrat.com
Author: Dan Berger

It’s a Sad Fact that Wineries are Avoiding Cork

Resource: Bonny Doone Vineyard

Looking for a truly unique gift this holiday season? A wine essence kit is an excellent choice when it comes to those who absolutely love wine and seek to become a better connoisseur of it.

A wine essence kit contains numerous glass vials that have within them the various scents that a wine may have. There are different sized kits (as there are dozens and dozens of scent possibilities!). How large you wish to purchase is up to you. You can find anywhere from a 12 piece kit to 24. Wine essence kits are typically used by merchants, wineries, and educators. The kits are used as an educational tool to help people identify and understand the various essences that wine can hold. Many kits come in beautiful containers as well, such as polished wooden boxes.

Those who are interested in learning more about wine will be delighted to see an essence kit coming their way. Before you know it, they’ll be describing all the essences in the holiday wine you’ve chosen and you may learn something about your favorite wine that you never realized before!

In 1919, the United States crafted and passed a Constitutional amendment that brought the consumption of alcohol to a standstill—at least, legally. Many times when people think of Prohibition, they think mostly of beer and hard liquor. But what about wine?

Wine, like other alcoholic drinks, was outlawed. The only way to enjoy a glass of wine recreationally during that time was to do so illegally, such as in a speakeasy. Some people managed to craft wine in their homes. Wine was also available through government warehouses for use in religious practices, such as communion. California was a large wine-producing region, and when Prohibition hit many of these wineries were forced to close.

Thankfully, the amendment was repealed in 1933 with the 21st Amendment. It is unlikely that such an event will ever happen again, especially when we know that alcohol, including wine, in moderation is considered healthy for the body. So raise a glass to the 21st Amendment the next time you buy a bottle of your favorite wine!

Like Ireland and England, Russia is not exactly a place that people associate with wine. Harsh climates and tough conditions aren’t friendly to many vines. However, over time with smart selection and careful techniques, Russia has become a producer of good bottles of wine and has several regions well worth taking a look at.

The Rostov region sits beside the Azov Sea and above Krasnodar. It is small with only a handful of wineries that produce wines able to handle the cold climate and the moisture the sea provides.

Below, the Krasnodar region has both the Azov Sea and the Black Sea as borders. This is Russia’s principle wine producing region. It has an early growing season because the climate here is milder and the soil is excellent. It boasts over 50% of Russia’s vineyards.

Stravropol is where the northern part of the Silk Road crossed in centuries past. With a central location, it is actually one of Russia’s greatest agricultural regions. Still, it is relatively dry and cold, but there are over twenty wineries located there. Primarily sweet and dry wines emerge from the area.

Daghestan is a long stretch on the opposite side, bordering the Caspian Sea. All four regions are in the southern parts of Russia where climates are warmest and mildest.

When people think of Ireland, they don’t often think of wine. Rather, it brings to mind stout beers and amazing liquors. But that doesn’t mean Ireland should be counted out when it comes to wine.

Ireland, however, has had a very slow start when it comes to wineries within the country. The weather and land isn’t ideal for many grape varieties. Indeed, even in 1996 wine seekers would have a difficult time finding vineyards. At most, one might discover a few personal vineyards that only contained a handful of vines.

However, the years have passed and grapes have changed as they always do, and Ireland has had a few people grow more and more interested in producing their own wine. With care and precision, there are now a few wineries in Ireland. The country primarily produces white wines, but there are a handful of reds in production. The majority of these vineyards are around Cork, which is located in the southwestern corner of the island.

The European Commission now recognizes Ireland as a wine producing country. Do some research before visiting so you know where to go and what to taste first!

Whether you want to give the gift of wine to someone in a special way or simply want a different kind of vacation, you can always look into wine tours.

Going on a wine tour can be a great deal of fun. It doesn’t matter if it’s just yourself or you have a whole group of people coming along, you’re in for a great change in scenery, some interesting information, and, of course, good wine. You can start doing searches online for various wineries in your local area, or if you want to look at wineries elsewhere, that’s fine, too. Wineries can be found in even some of the most surprising and unlikely of areas, all thanks to modern technology and the sheer willpower of some vineyard owners.

See if they have special events that might make your visit extra fun. Check out some of the wines you might be able to taste, as well as the food they might offer. You may want to do a little search offline, too. After all, not every winery is going to have a website.

For many years, wine grapes were crushed in the fashion that many people are familiar with — feet. Because wine grapes tend to have thicker skins, it was important to get them crushed quickly and effectively to hurry and begin the fermentation process before the grapes went bad.

With numerous people stepping on the grapes, they were well-crushed against what was usually a stone floor, ground up to release juices and break up the skins. Another element about using people to do the work is the temperature was slightly warmer than surrounding areas and items that might be used to crush grapes.

Because of the effectiveness of the foot, some wineries and companies have created machines that do the same process. The machines act in the same way, essentially grinding the grapes into the floor as well as being warmed at the same temperature. The benefit of these machines is that they can work all day and all night, if necessary, whereas with humans, only a handful of hours was possible before becoming too tired to smash the grapes effectively.

Taking a tour of a winery is supposed to be a fun and relaxing experience – and perhaps in many cases, an educational one. Wine tours are given by wineries all over the world. The owners of wineries want to show people the beauty of their land, the delectable taste of their wine, and their hospitality. In return, you may help spread the word about their wine and their winery.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a true blue wine enthusiast or someone just looking for a different type of vacation they can enjoy. The goal is to relax and have a good time. Feel free to ask questions about wine or the vineyard. The employees and owners will be more than happy to tell you all about it. If you like what you experience, you can always see if they have a newsletter or e-mail list so you know what’s going on. The next time you plan your weekend getaway, it might end up during a festival. You may get to add even more tastings, music, and fun to your next vacation.

When most people hear the name New York, they immediately think of its bustling city. Definitely not vineyards and healthy soil capable of yielding ripe grapes for delicious wine. And yet, much of New York is gorgeous, with the Finger Lakes boasting the most wineries and Long Island crafting some of the best bottles in the state.

The first grapes were planted in 1973 on Long Island. Interestingly enough, some of the best wineries exist just two hours away from the Big Apple itself. This makes heading to Long Island for a trip even better because it can include a little bit of everything: drive through the country, city life, and a fabulous wine tasting to end your day.

Merlot is the most popular grape variety planted and is Long Island’s signature variety. Due to their location and surrounding elements, merlots can have fruity flavors, which can include plum and black cherry tones.

Other varieties grown by wineries throughout Long Island and New York in general are chardonnay, cabernet franc, sauvignon blanc, and cabernet sauvignon.

Renowned in California as its most esteemed winegrowing region, Napa Valley boasts some of the finest bottles in the area and making it a must-see on any wine tourist’s list.  With almost 300 wineries to its name, it’s full of bottles that have amazing flavor and are often coveted by wine tasters who know what they’re looking for.  The wide range of microclimates in the region makes it ideal for many types of grapes.  This, in turn, allows for different bottles of wine to make their way to the surface.  Not only can you enjoy a high quality cabernet sauvignon, but also delightful pinot noirs or chardonnays.

Napa Valley is a beautiful place to visit and is an ideal place for wine tours that last not just one day, but several.  Making it better are the shops and restaurants that have popped up in the region, enhancing your wine drinking adventures with good food and good fun.  It’s the perfect place to rent a car and go driving with a picnic basket in the back, friends up in the front, and wine all around.