Traditionally, screw caps were a sign of cheap, low class wine. But does that stereotype still hold true today? Keep reading to explore the pros and cons of screw cap vs cork?
What did they use before corks?
Natural corks have been used to plug wine bottles for over 250 years. But what about before that? Of course, we all know wine has been around for centuries. They even mention Noah drinking wine as far back as the great flood.
Prior to the use of cork, oiled rags were used as stoppers. People also fashioned plugs from wood.
Then in the 1950s, manufacturers started using screw caps to seal value jugs of cooking wine.
However, it wasn’t until the earlier this millennium, that Australia and New Zealand started using screw caps on higher end bottles of wine. But why?
Pros & cons of screw cap vs cork

Pros of natural corks
Cons of natural corks

Benefits of screw caps
So who wins: screw cap vs cork?

While both have their pros and cons, which is better really depends on your preference and the kind of wine you prefer.
According to wine writer Dave McIntyre, corks are better for red wines and Chardonnays. Fuller wines benefit from the slight oxygen that seeps in through the cork. The air helps smooth out the tannins, making the wine softer.
On the other hand, according to James Foster of Cupcake Vineyards, screw caps are better for whites and reds meant to be drunk young.
So there you have it. That is a brief analysis of screw caps vs. corks.
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Donna Emperador is a creative blogger and copywriter. Donna believes in learning about different cultures while sharing good food and wine. She has lived in South Florida for over 20 years and enjoys spending time traveling and making wine culture easier to understand for readers.