A welcome twist
Although possibly still two years away from being seen at a wine store near you I wanted to share what could possibly the best invention since the wheel, the Helix cork.
Ok, well perhaps not the best thing since the wheel but it’s certainly going to be an important addition for us wine lovers. After four years of research, a collaboration between leading cork manufacturer Amorim and bottle-makers O-I was announced at this years’ Vinexpo in Bordeaux and they have created the Helix Cork. The new ‘twist to open – twist to close’ concept combines an ergonomically-designed stopper made from cork and a glass bottle with an internal thread finish in the neck. Helix combines all the benefits of cork and glass that is sure to give the screw cap a run for its money. Four years of research for a cork may seem a tad excessive but much of this time was spent waiting and watching carefully to see if this new cork had any effect on taste, aroma, or colour. It didn’t. Corks have been used to keep wine in its bottle for centuries but this extensive testing was necessary because the type of cork used in the Helix is atypical of wine cork manufacturing. Since cork is cellular in nature, the presence of open spaces in a normal cork stopper is ideal as it allows the wine to fill those spaces, expand the cork, and form a tight seal. However, the cork used in Helix is more granular, meaning fewer open spaces and less room for expansion. This would be a problem with a normal stopper, but the threaded design creates its own tight seal, meaning oxygen can’t escape on the sides while the density of the stopper prevents oxygen from escaping through the cork itself. The ritual of uncorking the bottle, and the “pop” heard as the cork is released are much loved parts of the wine experience. For the very first time, we can enjoy this classic ritual, including the associated “pop”, without the need for a corkscrew, thanks to Helix. To open the bottle simply hold and twist the cork stopper. After opening, the bottle can be closed with the same convenience. Simples. The resealability aspect is a major plus in the eyes of consumers, particularly those who prefer real cork to that plasticfeeling stopper or metal screw tops. According to Erik Bouts from bottlemakers O-I Europe: “Cork is still by far the preferred stopper. Our research has found that at least 80% of consumers prefer the cork and glass combination for their wine. It has the highest-quality image in the market and now we have made it easier to use. And it is still the most sustainable option”. While we wait for this revolution in wine stoppers to hit an off licence near you why not do as I do and make sure that, once opened, you finish the bottle thus negating the need to put the stopper back in. By Jason Edge
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