Are screw cap wines as good as traditional corked wines?
Yes — and much more convenient on a picnic. It used to be true that a screw cap meant that a wine was cheap and not good. However, more and more reputable winemakers are placing screw caps on their very best wines. Screw caps actually preserve the taste of the wine more consistently than the traditional cork, which can leak air (especially if the cork wasn’t kept wet by storing the bottle on its side) and lead to a ruined bottle of wine. Occasionally, corks can also leach trace amounts of chemicals into the wine giving the wine a musty smell and taste. A wine with this characteristic is referred to as “corked.” You should return these to your place of purchase, or tell your waiter. This should be replaced for you at no cost.
