Closures

Penfolds has been experimenting with different wine closures for some time and has found each method to have its own unique advantages.

While traditional cork closures play an important role in the ceremony and tradition of wine, they are also environmentally friendly, renewable and bio-degradable.

While the drive to find alternatives to cork closures can be seen as a direct result of the need to eliminate cork taint (TCA), the Portuguese Cork Industry, the world's largest producer, is also making great headway in the identification and reduction of this problem.

From the wide variety of alternatives to cork, the most popular is proving to be the screwcap which is now available in various forms.

Extensive work by Research Winemaker Allen Hart has shown screwcaps do in fact have a positive impact on the long term aging of wines and can provide a viable alternative to cork. As a result, Penfolds began bottling a number of its white wines under screwcap and is now extending the programme to its reds.

This area of Penfolds winemaking is still very much under review and in addition to our ongoing research, we will continue to monitor developments in the industry and consumer preference.