Cork Vs. Screw Cap - Does It Matter

When it comes to sealing a bottle of wine, two closure types dominate: the traditional cork and the modern screw cap. Each has its own benefits, and I would argue that no one closure is the hands-down winner when it comes to sealing your wine, but it does give winemakers something to think about, based on the intended consumer enjoyment of the wine being made.

The Classic Cork

Natural cork has been the closure of choice for centuries. Made from the bark of cork oak trees, it’s a renewable and biodegradable material that allows very limited oxygen interaction with the wine. This subtle breathing effect helps wines develop complex flavours as they age. However, cork isn’t without its risks. Around 3% of cork-sealed wines suffer from “cork taint,” a musty, unpleasant aroma and palate, caused by a compound called TCA (trichloroanisole). Though the industry has made strides in reducing cork taint, it remains a factor that can spoil the wine experience.

Screw Caps

Screw caps have gained immense popularity, especially in countries like Australia, New Zealand, and increasingly the United States. It is important to note that Australia and New Zealand were the first wine countries to adopt the screw cap movement, which began in the late 1990s. Today, approximately 30% of wines worldwide are sealed with screw caps, versus 90% in Australia and New Zealand.

Winemakers favour screw caps because they offer a tight, consistent seal that preserves freshness and prevents cork taint completely. These closures are particularly suitable for white wines and lighter reds, where preserving vibrant fruit notes is key.

Aging Wines Under Screw Caps

One common question is whether screw-capped wines age well. The answer is yes, when managed properly. Unlike corks, screw caps create an almost airtight seal, slowing the aging process and keeping the wine’s original profile intact.

Modern screw caps also come with adjustable oxygen transmission levels, so winemakers can control how much oxygen the wine encounters, simulating the air exchange that a cork can provide. This means many premium wines sealed with screw caps can age gracefully, just like their cork-sealed counterparts.

The Conclusion

It was once thought that only lower-tiered wines were sealed under screw cap, but that is not true. As screw cap adoption increases, we're seeing more austere wines sealed with this mechanism. With that said, you cannot ignore the historical romanticism of opening a wine that has been sealed with a cork. Tradition should not be ignored, but if wine has taught me anything, an open mind is a necessity.

So I ask you, screw cap or cork?