Another cork bites the dust

I've frequently noted the international creep of cork replacements, but have completely missed out until yesterday on what has happened in Austria.

I was visiting a fairly new wine and spirits shop in Putnam County, New York, called Wineology, and while wandering among the shelves, noting what turns out to be a well-managed selection, I passed the small space set aside for Austrian wines, primarily recent grüner veltliners. These wines were on the "must-have" list of many sommeliers in the first part of this decade, but they were generally hard to find and few restaurants and retailers bothered. Apparently the albarino boom has eased the demand, because at Wineology, they are stocking seven recent vintages, all but one sealed with a screw-cap. And the other wine, a 2006 Hofer grüner, came in a liter sealed with a crown cap - a new use for all those old church keys.

Comments

[Ellen Hauser]

Thank you for taking the time to reply to my posting. It seems so odd to be able to buy wine with a crown cap. I think I might be tempted to swig it straight from the bottle.

Thank you again for yor reply and for this information.

-Ellen

[Jack Robertiello]

I did buy a bottle, and poured it for friends, none of whom could have guessed that it was a crown cap seal. It tasted like a classic gruner - good fruit, limey citrus tang, lots of white pepper, and fresh green herbs. Very good, and with so many other gruners in screw cap, the crown cap seemed...natural.

[Ellen Hauser]

I'm very curious to hear how the Hofer gruner tasted with its crown cap. Were you able to taste it? If so, can you comment on it?

Thanks and cheers,
-Ellen