Beginning with the 2010 vintage, we made the pioneering decision to bottle our acclaimed Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs using twist-off caps. To our knowledge, we were the first Sonoma Coast winery to put all of our wines under twist-offs. Back then, some experts estimated the failure rate of wine corks to be as high as 10% to 15%. While the quality of many cork products has improved over the past 12 years, whether the failure rate due to cork taint, oxidation, or other cork-related faults is 2%, 5%, or more, there is no other industry selling luxury products that would accept the product failure rates that the wine industry accepts with cork closures.

The data is global, extensive, and conclusive. Twist-off closures deliver a consistent wine in every bottle. They also preserve the quality, craftsmanship, and terroir of the wines. The one argument that traditional cork supporters suggest is that twist-offs are not ideal for aging. However, now that pioneering countries like Australia and New Zealand have decades of wine under twist-offs, there is compelling evidence that they may even do a better job of preserving a wine’s freshness, purity of fruit, and nuance over years of aging.

“Corked wines afflicted with the musty, moldy, wet-basement smell ruin up to 15% of all wine.”

Robert Parker, in Food & Wine, 2015

The final argument against twist-offs is that customers don’t embrace them—that they aren’t romantic and don’t impart a sense of luxury. We live in a time when there is more information about what we eat and drink than ever. Consumers seek out quality and authenticity, and in this pursuit, they are willing to learn what they don’t know—especially when it comes to wine. Just as we, as winemakers, share with our customers the character of specific wine regions and the distinctive charm of special vineyards, it’s also our job to educate others on how best to preserve the quality and integrity of the wines we produce. Here are four facts every wine-lover should know about twist-off caps:

1. Under twist-offs there is no chance for cork-related TCA – a scientific term that means a wine is ‘corked’ or that it tastes musty.
2. Twist-off enclosed wines have dramatically reduced oxidation – oxygen is most often the enemy, not the friend, of wine.
3. Under twist-offs there is little-to-no bottle variation, whereas corks may have different permeability thresholds – our wines under twist-offs taste uniformly consistent from one bottle to the next.
4. Twist-off closures are far more resistant to temperature change during shipping.

“Corks versus screw caps? Using corks is a marketing decision. Using screw caps is a winemaking decision and a quality decision. We choose quality.”

Steve MacRostie

Since the earliest days of civilization, wine has brought people together in joy and celebration. This is the magic of wine, and why it makes such a memorable and meaningful gift. For those who enjoy fine wine, there are few gifts more welcome. Whether it’s for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, a university graduation, a wedding, or a milestone anniversary, fine wine is a gift that will have your loved ones thinking fondly of you every time they open one of the bottles you’ve gifted.

When giving wine, it’s important to think about three things: the taste of the recipient, their experience with wine, and the significance of the event they are celebrating. This is where we come in.

Exploring fine wine and learning to appreciate its beauty is one of life’s great pleasures. Many of us still remember our first “Wow!” wine and how the experience led to a lifetime of discoveries. When gifting to newer wine drinkers, it’s important to remember that they are just beginning their journey with wine, and that journey should be a source of delight. Because they are easy to love, the classic varietals of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in our Explore Russian River Valley – AVA Duo are a wonderful and engaging place to start. Whether for a serious aficionado or a less-experienced wine drinker, our Celebrate & Sparkle – Sparkling Duo makes an unforgettable gift, while providing perfect wines for raising a toast.

For more experienced wine enthusiasts, our Night Flight – Nightwing Vineyard Duo showcases the beauty of single-vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from our acclaimed Nightwing Estate Vineyard.

Of course, the bigger the occasion, the more extravagant you may wish to be. To really make a statement while showing your gratitude and great taste, consider gifting a MacRostie Club Membership. Whether for a university graduation, a milestone birthday, or a special anniversary, a club membership will have them thinking of you each time a new box of wine arrives at their door. With three membership levels to choose from, we have the perfect club for every palate.

To make gifting easy and enjoyable, every gift set in our MacRostie Gift Shop includes ground shipping, a beautiful MacRostie logo gift box, a personalized gift note, and a gift certificate valued at $80 for an Estate House Signature tasting for two people! And of course, you can always go to our Online Wine Store, where you can curate your own personal gift sets.