No doubt you've started to notice that more and more bottles sitting on shelves in your favorite wine shop have screw cap closures. The trend, beginning in New Zeeland in 2000 started out slow but has gained momentum in the last few years.

It's been a tough sell for winemakers and consumers alike. I think it's safe to say that people typically think of a screw cap bottle as "cheap" wine. Overcoming that stereotype has proven difficult for many wineries

The truth is, the wine is not cheap. In fact if you are buying a screw capped bottle you are more likely to taste the wine the way the wine maker intended. This makes wine makers happy. After all, their job is to create a palate pleasing wine for you to enjoy.

There are two main reasons the wine industry is now using screw cap tops. The first being the risk of Oxygen permeation.

What exactly is oxygen permeation? Glad you asked. Oxygen permeation, also known as oxygen transmission rate (OTR), is the amount of oxygen that passes through a material. Oxygen Permeation causes oxidation in wine. Oxidation is a bad thing. It can cause the bouquet of wine to lose its fruity components and in some cases can even spoil wine completely. The most common cause for an oxidized wine is a shrunken cork that allowed oxygen to contact the wine itself.

Screw cap closures also reduce the risk of bringing home a "corked" bottle. A "corked" bottle is wine that has been contaminated by TCA (2,4,6-Trichloroanisole). TCA creates a musty odor that isn't conducive to enjoying your glass of wine. Some people describe the smell as moldy paper or even wet dog. As you can imagine it doesn't do much for the pallet.

In a 2005 study of 2800 bottles tasted at the Wine Spectator blind-tasting facilities in Napa, California, 7% of the bottles were found to be tainted.^[1]

That figure indicates that a number of people consuming wine at home or in restaurants will encounter a "corked" bottle. Most wineries and restaurants encourage you to return a corked bottle as they want you to enjoy the product, but if you're already home or perhaps bought the bottle while traveling it become a hassle.

I don't want to discourage people from buying wine that is sealed with the traditional cork. In fact I too love the pop it make when I open one, there is something a little romantic and traditional about pulling the cork. The purpose of this article is really to let those who are still unsure about screw cap closures know that they are in fact a good bet. Even nicely balanced, well structured wines produced by prominent winemakers are now being secured with a screw cap. Don't be afraid to purchase one, you may just fine the best wine you've ever tried. As an added bonus, if you forget your cork screw you can still enjoy that bottle!

^[1]Wine Spectator March 31st, 2006