Wine Question

I don't know anything about Chilean wines specifically, but many producers of wine of the cheaper, quickly consumed, wines want to get away from real cork. Synthetic corks are one of the newer things since almost all consumers look down their nose at screw tops.

alleycat said:

Synthetic corks are one of the newer things since almost all consumer look down their nose at screw tops.

Click to expand...

I think I read they are using synthetic corks because they are cheaper and hold up better. Last year at Thanksgiving I handed my Uncle a modestly priced bottle of Australian red I wanted him to loosen the screwtop on. He was giving me grief about the 'cheap wine'. I went in the kitchen and got the more expensive bottle of French Burgundy his wife had brought and showed him the screwtop. He was astonished.

MM

I've never seen the flat disk on top. I'll keep my eyes open next time I buy wines.

Screw tops are definitely becoming more popular, but there's something about the waiter unscrewing the bottle at the table that takes all the fun out of ordering wine.

vixey said:

Screw tops are definitely becoming more popular, but there's something about the waiter unscrewing the bottle at the table that takes all the fun out of ordering wine.

Click to expand...

I saw something on the TV news or somewhere where the waiters at a fancy-smancy restaurant were taking the screw tops off and then inserting a cork using a little wooden mallet. That way they could make the traditional wine opening ceremony at the table (and expect a bigger tip, of course). The people were none the wiser.

Clever. I mean, who wants to smell a screw top?

alleycat said:

I saw something on the TV news or somewhere where the waiters at a fancy-smancy restaurant were taking the screw tops off and then inserting a cork using a little wooden mallet. That way they could make the traditional wine opening ceremony at the table (and expect a bigger tip, of course). The people were none the wiser.

Clever. I mean, who wants to smell a screw top?

Click to expand...

Heh-heh...but when the waiter left the bottle on the table, wouldn't the unsuspecting diners see the screw top threads on the bottle?

alleycat said:

I saw something on the TV news or somewhere where the waiters at a fancy-smancy restaurant were taking the screw tops off and then inserting a cork using a little wooden mallet. That way they could make the traditional wine opening ceremony at the table (and expect a bigger tip, of course). The people were none the wiser.

Clever. I mean, who wants to smell a screw top?

Click to expand...

That's fascinating. It's fascinating because opening a bottle of wine for me doesn't usually generate a larger tip, just the normal one since I expect that as part of the service.

I've heard some time ago that cork is running out world-wide and so wine makers have to have a different mechanism to seal wine such as plastic corks or screw tops. I don't remember where or when I heard that.

Snowstorm said:

I've heard some time ago that cork is running out world-wide and so wine makers have to have a different mechanism to seal wine such as plastic corks or screw tops. I don't remember where or when I heard that.

Click to expand...

The people in Spain say that's just an excuse the wine producers use to switch to synthetic cork.

I have no idea myself.

Real cork is only necessary when the wine involved is to be aged for a significant period of time. The cork is slightly permeable, and allows the wine to interact with the chemistry of the external universe slowly, and develop mature characteristics that are greatly valued. But many wines are not designed to be kept for long periods of time; frankly, a cork enclosure is superfluous for wines intended to be consumed young, and many such wines are perfectly fine beverages in that context. Most white wines (true sauternes and some chardonnays may be exceptions) are not intended to be aged, and in fact are not improved by it. Certain reds (e.g., Merlots, Pinot Noirs), likewise. For such wines, if a non-cork enclosure helps keep the price down, it's probably a good thing.

caw

Oh, cork it, blacbird.

Snowstorm said:

I've heard some time ago that cork is running out world-wide and so wine makers have to have a different mechanism to seal wine such as plastic corks or screw tops. I don't remember where or when I heard that.

Click to expand...

huh. never heard that before. i believe it though.
also, screw tops are way way more reliable -- a good percentage of corks fail, the wine goes bad and people lose money.