Screwcaps bring the “appreciable advantage of sparing our biceps the pain from working the cork-screw”. A good solution, especially when one observes that, for example, most Americans do not own a cork-screw. New Zealand was pivotal for screwcaps notably through the pressure group: Screwcap Initiative.

Plastic stoppers are equally in fashion, especially with young wines. Rodolfo Gaona, commercial director of Nomacorc, claims that “our stoppers do not break, do not absorb or lose humidity, are not organic so are therefore not susceptible to bacteria or insects and are not perishable”. There is no gaseous exchange between the wine and the surrounding air but this is not necessary for wines that will be consumed early on. Experience shows that synthetic stoppers are satisfactory for just less than 18 months.

The glass stopper, fitted with a small joint of rubber, can be adapted to most bottle necks. An aluminium capsule currently caps the glass stopper. The bottle is opened with a special cap-remover which causes the aluminium cap to break in half by exerting axial pressure. The glass stopper can then be easily removed with the thumb.