If The Cap Fits . . .

Concha y Toro is confident that consumers are ready for the screw-cap revolution.  South America’s biggest premium wine company has invested considerably in introducing these closures, especially for its aromatic whites and pure varietals

THIS year, Concha y Toro will be releasing 13 wines with screw-cap closures.  Latin America’s largest producer of premium branded wines has invested financial and human resources to fulfil its new packaging objectives.

A large amount of the aromatic white grape varieties across the range will be screw-capped as well as a rosé wine and a Pinot Noir.  Concha y Toro UK Managing Director, Cristian Lopez says, "We have been following the closure debate very closely and have also been conducting our own trials.

We are satisfied that aromatic white grape varieties benefit from screw-cap closures. We will continue to research the implications for red wines.  As for consumer perception, the more  highquality producers who support the screwcap initiative, the better.

 It’s also important to consider the upper end of the portfolio, not just entry-level.  We will be making serious efforts to educate consumers in the UK market, who are already showing increasing acceptance for alternative closures."

The recent decisions on closures come at a time of continued growth for Concha y Toro.  Over the past four years, the company has firmly established its position as the leading exporter of premium branded Chilean wines in the UK market.

According to current AC Nielsen Scantrak data, Concha y Toro accounts for 32.5% of total Chilean growth in 2004, exporting 1,196,540 cases (of which 1,000,000 were branded wines). Casillero del Diablo continues to show steady and sustainable growth in the multiple grocery and independent specialist sectors, with circa 450,000 cases exported to the UK in 2004 (compared with 28,000 in 2000).

Concha y Toro has opted for screw-caps on their premium ranges with Winemakers Lot Riesling 2004 (RRP £7.99), Winemakers Lot Gewürztraminer 2004 (RRP £6.99), Trio Sauvignon Blanc 2004 (RRP £5.99), Trio Pinot Noir 2004 (RRP £6.99) and Terrunyo Sauvignon Blanc 2005 (RRP £8.99).

The Casillero del Diablo range will follow suit with Sauvignon Blanc 2005 (RRP £4.99), Riesling 2004 (RRP £5.99) and Gewürztraminer 2004 (RRP £5.49) as well as the intensely aromatic Shiraz Rosé 2004 (RRP £5.49).

Finally, Frontera Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc will be moving to screw cap in line with other existing varieties (Merlot & Chardonnay) currently stocked in Tesco. 

Trio and Terrunyo winemaker Ignacio Recabarren says, "We are doing a lot of work on clonal selection and site selection in our coolclimate vineyards, and the Sauvignon Blancs and Pinot Noirs that we are producing today are increasingly intense in terms of varietal character and complexity.

These wines should be bottled under screw-cap, not least to avoid the risk of cork taint but also the loss of concentration that can occur with other synthetic closures.  I believe that consumers are more and more ready to accept the screw-cap."