Wine is an industry steeped in tradition. For hundreds of years, it’s been packaged in a glass bottle and sealed with a cork. And there’s no doubt, wandering around a cellar with some luxurious, dusty bottles is truly an amazing experience. But does wine always have to be so… traditional?
For a long time, the answer was a resounding yes, though the tide is turning. The industry is getting a better understanding of new materials, and most importantly, how they interact with the wine. And at Naked, we’re always searching for the best way to get your wine from the maker’s cellar into your glass in peak condition — even if it means bucking tradition a bit.
The Great Debate: Cork vs. Screwcap
Screwcaps are the most prevalent alternative today. If you’re shopping around in Australia or New Zealand, it’s tough to find a cork anywhere – even for top-shelf reds. I do love the theatre of a cork; that satisfying pop is a delicious part of the wine ritual. But the ease of a screwcap is growing on me.
Traditional screwcaps are airtight, perfect for preserving the zingy aromatics of fresh whites and rosés. Now, they’ve developed ‘liner’ membranes that simulate the tiny amount of oxygen exchange a cork provides, helping the wine continue developing flavors in the bottle, especially for reds.
Corks, screw caps — they’re both great choices that ensure the quality of your wine. And in the end, that’s what is most important of all.
Thinking Outside the Glass
This is where things get really interesting. Historically, the industry has looked down on non-glass formats, specifically because they have a limited shelf life. Of course, I wouldn’t recommend laying down a first-growth Bordeaux for twenty years in an aluminum can. But, if you plan to drink your wine within a year of purchase (which most of us do!), these other options offer some incredible benefits.
We’re always looking to expand our offerings, like pouches, cans, and even paper-based bottles. Why?
Carbon footprint: Glass is heavy and energy-intensive to produce and transport. Alternative packaging is significantly lighter, which cuts the carbon emissions involved in shipping.
Sustainability: Many of these formats use less energy to recycle or are produced with a higher percentage of recycled content.
Convenience: A pouch or a can is much easier to take to a picnic, festival, or the beach than a heavy glass bottle — and why shouldn’t your favorite wine come along?
All that being said, our priority is and always will be the quality of the wine inside. As we learn more about the environmental impact of our choices, you’ll see us experimenting more with how that wine is wrapped (as well as testing lightweight glass to access some of those sustainability benefits). Whether it’s a classic cork or a boxed wine, our goal is to ensure that what’s in your glass is exactly what the winemaker intended.
Cheers to delicious advancements.
