How Clare Valley drove screwcap revolution for wine

Can you imagine buying what was supposed to be the exact same product – any product – and having it be different every time? And in some cases, that the product you purchased was outright faulty. It wasn’t fit for purpose. This is not an acceptable scenario in any category of consumer goods. But it’s exactly what was happening in the Australian wine industry 20 years ago, and through no fault of our winemakers. The culprit was dodgy corks, which were causing widespread issues with TCA – commonly known as cork taint – as well as sporadic oxidation, and even leaking. The inconsistency was a nightmare not just for consumers, but everyone involved in the wine trade. Twenty years ago, 14 Clare Valley winemakers had had enough. They joined forces, packaging their rieslings from the 2002 vintage under screwcap, and set about educating the trade and consumers about the benefits of using this closure. And in this special episode of Drinks Adventures – made possible by the support of Taylors Wines – you’re going to hear how it all happened, and what was the wider significance of the initiative, which drove widespread adoption of screwcap across Australia and beyond. Founded in 1969, Taylors was one of the 14 Clare Valley wineries that drove the screwcap initiative from the very beginning. Look out for the new vintages of Taylors St Andrews collection with the upcoming Family Flagship Release in July 2023. You can buy Taylors St Andrews wines direct from the company’s Clare Valley cellar door or online. Click here to open episode in your podcast player.