Innovations

At Moothi Estate - we decided to bottle our wines using Stelvin closures (or screw caps). We believe that putting our wine at risk of cork taint is irresponsible and have chosen to embrace Stelvin closures for all of our varieties. Here are some quotes from those in the wine industry to support Stelvin closures and Australias growing acceptance toward using them.

Huon Hooke argues the case for screw caps:

"Good Drinking" Good Living Magazine, Feb15 2005

"...Many drinkers and wine industry insiders, including some wine makers, still believe oxygen is essential for the proper ageing of wine in the bottle. It was common knowledge that the wine 'breathed' through its cork; wineries even used to punch little holes in their capsules to let the air in...Taste the wines, I encourage them, and the proof is plain to see: wine ages beautifully under a screwcap. I've tasted many of them, going back more than 30 years, and never had a failure - which is much more than you can say for cork!

(There is) new research into the role of oxygen in wine maturation. Oxygen is not vital for the ongoing evolution of bottled red wine; small amounts of oxygen accelerate development and maturation through oxadative reactions; and bottled red wine continues to evolve, without oxygen ingress, through anaerobic reactions.

So there it is, more evidence that oxygen is not necessary for the maturation of red wine."

30 Second Wine Advisor:" Screw cap gains momentum."
http://www.wine-lovers-page.com/wineadvisor1/tswa031013.phtml

"Spurred by rapidly increasing consumer anger about fine wines spoiled by the musty "taint" that accompanies a significant percentage of tree-bark corks, the industry - particularly in Australia and New Zealand but also in the U.S. and to a lesser extent Europe - is moving with surprising speed toward the wider use of alternatives."

Over the last couple of years, screw caps - particularly the quality Stelvin brand (and a few competitors) whose heavy-duty closure looks a great deal like the foil or plastic "capsule" that shields the usual cork - appear to be overtaking synthetics as the alternative wine closure of choice for many producers.

Aust. Vignerons Jan/Feb 2002 pg. 27

"It's clearly self evident that a zero percent taint tolerance is the ultimate winemakers requirement"

"Cellar Talk" Good Living Magazine, Nov 18 2003

"About 200 million bottles of Australian wine will be sealed with screw caps next year according to Clare winemaker and screw cap advocate, Jeffrey Grosset. This compares with about 200,000 in 2000, which is a thousand fold increase in four years, and gives an idea of just how quickly screw caps have been adopted by our wine makers and ultimately by wine drinkers"

Michael Brajkovich, Chairman of the NZ screw cap initiative
"Wine" Good Living Magazine Sep 23 2003

"We are very confident that over a two or three year time frame differences in the red wines will become even more pronounced and that wines sealed with Stelvin will be markedly superior"

Tyson Stelzer
" A new twist for Wine shows" Australian Vignerons

"I have very little doubt that screw caps in red wines will take off in the same way as they have in white wines. Watch the show results. My guess is that the Stelvin closure results will be superior to that of cork"

"Demand for screw caps widens"
Vignerons Sept/Oct 02

"When a number of major wineries invest a large amount of time and money and adapt their operations to facilitate screw cap initiative, it would seem that there Is strong support by the industry"

"The demand for screw caps by wineries has been growing in Australia and New Zealand. The demand for the screw cap has been stimulated by the UK. Interestingly, initial consumer responses to the screw cap is particularly encouraging and demonstrates a high level of acceptance.