Australia: Wine Maker Replaces Corks With Glass Stoppers

In response to the problem of rising cork contamination levels in its wines, one of Australia's top wine makers is introducing a new glass bottle stopper. Henschke and Co managing director Stephen Henschke said he believed the Vino-Lok glass stopper by Alcoa Closure Systems International cost about the same as the most expensive cork. Vino-Lok won the gold prize for innovation at the International Wine and Fruit Juice Fair, Intervitis Interfructa 2004. Mr. Henschke said the glass alternative offered the hermetic reliability of a screw cap with the aesthetic appeal of a decorative decanter stopper.