Hogue Cellars Screw Cap FAQ
Q: Why has Hogue changed to screwcaps?
A: The Hogue winemakers studied screwcaps extensively over a two and a half year period and found that wine sealed with a screwcap tasted better and stayed fresher longer than wines closed with natural or synthetic cork.
Q: Did the winemakers study white wines or red wines?
A: Both. A Hogue Chardonnay and a Genesis Merlot.
Q: Why is a screwcap better than a natural cork?
A: Natural corks have imperfections: they crumble or break, they can leak, and 15% of all corks are contaminated by TCA—a compound that makes the wine taste musty or moldy.
Q: What about synthetic corks?
A: Hogue has used synthetic corks for 10 years and while they do not contain TCA, they allow the wine to age too rapidly.
Q: Will wine age as well with a screwcap as a cork?
A: Our evidence says yes. Better, actually.
Q: Why isn’t Genesis in a screwcap?
A: Other than the Genesis Riesling which is in fact under a screwcap, Genesis wines are still cork finished. The winemaking staff is enthusiastic about the screwcap’s ability to preserve wine quality. If and when Vincor USA management decides that Genesis and Reserve consumers are willing to accept them, the winemakers will gladly bottle those wines under screwcap.
Q: Do corks “breathe”? What about screwcaps?
A:A: Yes, corks do “breathe” or let tiny amounts of air through to the wine. Unfortunately, corks are very inconsistent. Some let through a little, some let through a lot. This is a source of bottle to bottle quality variation. Screwcaps “breathe”, but do so very consistently from bottle to bottle. They breathe at a lower rate than corks so the wine stays fresher longer.
Q: What about red wines? What is the potential for long-term aging?
A: Red wine aging occurs in the presence of a tiny amount of air which comes through the closure. The screwcap Hogue has chosen for our red wine allows this to occur. Evidence from our studies as well as others indicates that the wines will age as well or better than cork finished wines over the long term.