More Screw cap sparkling wine sparks export worries

A Barossa Valley winery says it might be a hard sell to convince consumers to buy sparkling wine with screw caps.

The Australian Wine Research Institute has been looking into the idea for the past couple of years and says full-scale production of the technology could happen within 12 months.

Caps were brought in for some less carbonated varieties of Australian sparkling wine last year.

The head of winemaking at Yalumba, Louisa Rose, says although the caps have their advantages, exporting the product may be problematic.

"Some of the Asian markets and particularly China are very adamant the best wine in the world is sealed under cork and if we want to be considered to be the best wine in the world ... most wineries are realising that in fact it does have to be under a cork still," she said.

Warren Roget from the Australian Wine Research Institute says it is developing the capping technology with a South Australian manufacturer.

"It's going to be the cost, the consistency, the usability that's going to appeal to certain people," he said.

"We can see this being quite applicable to areas such as the restaurant or hotel trade and for major events, sporting events for example and anywhere serving wine by the glass," he said.

Source: ABC News, 28 February 2013