Champagne corks replaced by 'revolutionary' metallic top
April 15, 2009
By Graham Tearse
A world-first metallic capsule that replaces traditional Champagne corks while preserving the traditional bottle-opening 'pop' is to be launched by Champagne house Duval-Leroy at the London International Wine Fair in May.
But details about the capsule, developed by Canadian firm Alcan Packaging and designed for future use across a broad range of sparkling wines, were being kept a close secret ahead of next month's launch.
The device, described by Alcan as 'revolutionary', will first appear on a limited number of bottles of Duval-Leroy's clos des Bouveries range to test market reaction.
A source at the family-owned Champagne house told decanter.com that the primary interest in the capsule was to avoid incidences of cork tainting. It will also be easier and safer to manipulate than traditional cork stoppers, but will retain their pop and splash drama, she confirmed.
Alcan Packaging, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto Alcan, is already a major supplier of screwcaps for still wines, with its Stelvin aluminium stopper.
Manufacturers estimate screwcaps now account for about 15% of wine bottle closures worldwide.
Have your say... To post your comment on this story, email us at news@decanter.com, making sure the relevant headline is in the subject field
To the best of my knowledge, legislation reqires bark cork stoppers for every Champagne bottle except for airline/minibar miniatures. Has there been a change in legislation? Thus said, I heartily welcome Duval-Leroy's step!
Michael Pronay, Vienna, Austria
Not satisified with contaminating still wine with aluminium from closures the aluminium industry has moved on to contaminating champagne!!! Before they are allowed to use this brand new product we must ask them to demonstrate through the research that they have carried out that the new closure does not contaminate the champagne with aluminium.
Chris Exley
In the comments on this story, Chris Exley combines inaccuracy with prejudice.
Firstly, in no aluminium closure does the wine come into contact with
the metal, and secondly the use of aluminium oxide in large
quantities for antacids demonstrates that it would do no harm even if it were.
As a farrago of inaccuracy and prejudice, this was hard to beat.
Ian Hoare, France
There is always aluminium in champagne and in all wines. Aluminium makes up 8% of the earth's crust, so is in all soils like most metals and minerals.
Grapes show a strong uptake of aluminium as do oranges. It is helpful to digestion as it acts as an anticid.
You can drink without any concerns because the human race could not have evolved without successfully tolerating aluminium intake.
Nick Kendal, UK
What would one do without such informed views as those expressed by Ian Hoare and Nick Kendall?
Congratulations to both on their undoubted expertise in all matters 'aluminium'.
Chris Exley, Staffordshire, UK
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To the best of my knowledge, legislation reqires bark cork stoppers for every Champagne bottle except for airline/minibar miniatures. Has there been a change in legislation? Thus said, I heartily welcome Duval-Leroy's step!
