Screwcaps show their potential

Screwcap sealed wines may have stolen the limelight at this year's Royal Easter Wine Show but at least one judge warns the results are not a definitive indicator of the system's benefits over traditional cork.

Of the 26 screwcap entries in last month's show, 19 won medals and one, Forrest Estate Vineyard Selection Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2001, went on to win the Wine Society Trophy for champion sauvignon blanc.

Winemakers who made the change from cork to screwcap say they did so for one simple reason, to improve quality.

Screwcaps eliminate cork taint and alleviate concerns over cork quality.

Almost 30 New Zealand vineyards have joined the "screwcap initiative" that was launched last year.

But wine show chief judge and master of wine Bob Campbell said the number of screwcap wine entries in this year's show was too small to be a quality indicator. Just under 800 wines were judged.

"I'm not going to hang my hat on that result, it doesn't clearly suggest that screwcaps are better than cork," he said.

"I think the most important thing about that result is that winemakers are confident enough about screwcaps to put good wine in."

But the show's senior judge, Mike DeGaris, said the success of the screwcap wines indicated the practice was here to stay.

- NZPA