Our switch to screw cap (Stelvin) is in progress. The first Cloof wines to utilise this closure are the 2004 Dusty Road Chenin Blanc and Rosè. Our reason for this is simple – it's the only way we can ensure that our wine reaches consumers' glasses in pristine condition (assuming ideal conditions in the distribution channel). Initially we are offering the choice of cork or screw cap with these wines, but expect to change over completely by the 2005 vintage.

One of the common misconceptions is that this technology is cheaper. The reality is that glass manufacturers in South Africa are not yet producing sufficient Stelvin bottles to achieve economies of scale, with the result that the bottles cost us R1.00 (about 0.12 euro) more than conventional bottles. The caps themselves are about the same cost as a basic cork.

The main objections given are tradition and image. Well, there’s nothing intrinsically unaesthetic about screw caps, and the gentle ‘krrts’ of twisting the cap can be every bit as satisfying as pulling a cork.










 

Regardless of opinion or whimsy, screw caps are a superior closure for aromatic or delicate wines. In time they may yet be proved superior for vins de garde – red wines intended for ageing