(Santiago, Chile – August 2005) Chile’s premier winemaker has entered the fray on screw caps vs. corks by highlighting the virtues of both.

Concha y Toro has bottled the newest vintage of its Casillero del Diablo Sauvignon Blanc with a screw cap, while the rest of the Casillero line, including a Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Carménère, remain with a cork finish.

Winemaker Marcelo Papa explained that both closures have advantages, depending on the varietal and winemaking style. When vinified without air contact, he said, Sauvignon Blanc is extremely susceptible to oxidation after bottling.

“Fresh and aromatic wines, such as Casillero del Diablo Sauvignon Blanc, should be consumed young,” he noted. “So they require the most airtight seal possible to secure the wine’s intense aromatic characteristics and avoid any contact with air.”

On the contrary, according to Mr. Papa, richer styles of Sauvignon Blanc such as Concha y Toro’s Terrunyo, other white wine varieties such as Chardonnay, and most reds can benefit from some contact with air, when micro-oxygenation is part of their vinification process. Cork is a natural, porous material that seals the bottle through pressure, but allows a limited degree of contact with air over time. While this may diminish the bright flavors and freshness of a fruit-forward Sauvignon Blanc, it can actually enhance the more complex flavors and depth of a bolder Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Carménère. Under a cork finish, those wines will continue to evolve with bottle aging. The risk of a “corked” wine remains, but thanks to improvements in cork quality and further research into the issue, the benefits still outweigh the risks.

Concha y Toro is the leading Chilean wine sold in the U.S., and the #2 overall import. Along with Casillero del Diablo, Concha y Toro also produces the popular Frontera and Xplorador lines, the premium Marques de Casa Concha line, the prestige Amelia Chardonnay, and Don Melchor, deemed by many as the finest Cabernet Sauvignon made in Chile. Concha y Toro wines are imported exclusively by Banfi Vintners.