Rainbow revolution awaits wine caps

Stephan Jelicich says coloured tops could take a while to catch on with conservative winemakers. Picture / Richard Robinson

Think of wine and the colours red and white spring to mind.

But advances in locally made screwcaps mean it's about to get more colourful.

Esvin Wine Resources started making screwcaps at its $7.7 million Mt Wellington, Auckland, plant in September and this year's vintage will be the first to be capped by the company's new range.

Global Caps in Avondale also opened late last year and is awaiting the first bottles using its caps.

The companies' screwcaps can be made in a rainbow of colours, finished with detailed printing on top and sides.

"The top of the screwcap can be as elaborate as you want," said managing director Stephan Jelicich.

"We can actually do a photograph - it could be a picture of someone's face with precise colour matches, like you would see in a magazine."

Jelicich admits the technology's potential could take a while to catch on in the wine industry, known for its ties to tradition.

"We are really trying to encourage the wine industry to think beyond black, which is going to be a bit of a challenge," he said.

"Most wineries are fairly sedate in their approach to design but that's starting to change.

"I think that once people see what can be done, that will get the creative juices going."

The company was working with designers to gently introduce winemakers to the possibilities, said Jelicich.

Rachael Carter, general manager of Global Cap, which officially opens its plant next week, said screwcaps were important in branding.

She predicted a move to sleeker design and matt finishes.

International Screwcap Initiative chairman Michael Brajkovich, winemaker at Kumeu River in West Auckland, said the technology provided more branding options for New Zealand winemakers.

But, he said, the most important aspect was the proper application of the seal, not its appearance.


PUT A CORK IN IT?

* New Zealand winemakers have embraced the screwcap over the cork as a way to close bottles.

* Figures from the New Zealand Screwcap Wine Seal Initiative show 34 per cent of New Zealand wine was bottled under screwcap in 2004, rising to an estimated 90 per cent this year.

* At the same time, the country's wine industry is growing. New Zealand Winegrowers statistics show export value rose from $41.5 million in 1994 to $434.9 million last year.

* Domestic sales also grew during the period, from 28.5 million litres to 45 million litres.