This month we will be focusing on wines that use the ingenious Stelvin closure, aka screw cap. Celebrating it's 60th birthday in May of this year, this tiny aluminum top is perfect for everyday table wines as it let's in no oxygen and greatly reduces the presence of TCA (2,4,6-trichloroanisole), the compound that leads to cork taint which gives off a wet cardboard smell and taste and mutes other flavors. Even PlumpJack Winery realized the risk of cork taint and began bottling their cabernets in both cork and screw cap closures back in 2000. Read about PlumpJack's history with screw caps here.
Although wines of any value can have a Stelvin closure, we've pulled together an affordable case of screw cap wines to take on your Labor Day road trips; no need to pack a corkscrew when you hit the road with these favorites!
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Durnberg Falkenstein Zweigelt |
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Region: Weinviertel, Austria |
100% Zweigelt fermented in vats for 2 weeks with the lees stirred (batonnage) to impart a roundness and creaminess to the finished wine. The wine is then removed from the skins and transferred to 500 liter oak barrels and stainless steel tanks for 5-8 months. Deep purple verging on ruby in the glass, with a expressive nose of sour cherries and baking spice which continues on the bright, medium bodied palate with grippy tannins that can be served chilled. Vegan and certified sustainable |
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Winemaker: Christoph Körner |
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Price: $17.99 per bottle / $195.49 per case |
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Suggested Food Pairing: Roast chicken, BBQ, grilled vegetables, beef or game stew |
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Moulin de Gassac Pinot Noir |
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Region: Languedoc, France |
100% Pinot Noir with a 3-5 day maceration with daily pump overs to help preserve the fresh fruit character, short fermentation in oak, and 6 months in stainless steel. Pale garnet in the glass with notes of baking spice, mocha, and candied cherry. Bright, medium bodied, and juicy on the palate with soft tannins. Certified sustainable |
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Winemaker: Samuel Guibert |
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Price: $15.99 per bottle / $173.89 per case |
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Suggested Food Pairing: Seared tuna, salmon, duck |
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Freelander Cabernet Sauvignon |
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Region: California, USA |
100% Cabernet Grapes cold soaked for 4-5 days, fermented in stainless steel, and aged 10 months in a combination of French and American oak with about 20% being new. Deep purple in the glass with notes of Blackberry, blueberry, and and Full bodied and bold with silky tannins. |
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Winemaker: Larry Levin |
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Price: $14.99 per bottle / $163.09 per case |
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Suggested Food Pairing: Carne asada, grilled mushrooms |
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Milenrama Joven Rioja |
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Region: Rioja, Spain |
100% Tempranillo fermented for 15 days in stainless steel and concrete. Deep ruby in the glass with notes of fresh red fruits, blackberry and licorice. Juicy and medium bodied with silky tannins. |
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Winemaker: Ruth de Andrés |
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Price: $15.99 per bottle / $173.89 per case |
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Suggested Food Pairing: Spanish chorizo, hard cheeses |
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Los Morros Carmenere |
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Region: Central Valley, Chile |
100% Carmenere destemmed and fermented in stainless steel for 20 day. 10% of the wine is aged for 12 months in 2nd use French oak and then blended back in. Deep purple leaning towards ruby in the glass with notes of cooked blackberry, bay leaf, and black currant. Medium bodied and dry with soft tannins and balanced acidity with a savory finish showing notes of bell pepper, eucalyptus, and black plum |
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Winemaker: Miguel Besoain |
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Price: $12.99 per bottle / $141.49 per case |
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Suggested Food Pairing: Chorizo and potatoes, lamb chops, al pastor |
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Garageland Rosé |
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Region: Willamette Valley, USA |
100% Pinot Noir from two sites around Chehalem and one just south of Lake Oswego. Gently pressed and and left to settle for a couple days before being moved to stainless steel tanks, some of which no additional yeast was added and some of which champagne yest was added. They were then blended and fined and filtered before bottling. Pale pink in the glass with notes of green strawberry and bright red cherry. Medium bodied with vibrant acidity and a crisp, citrusy, and dry finish. |
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Winemaker: Matt Berson |
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Price: $18.99 per bottle / $206.29 per case |
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Suggested Food Pairing: Chicken Caesar salad, gouda, sauteed asparagus with garlic |
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Bedrock Ode To Lulu Rosé |
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Region: California, USA |
76% Mourvèdre, 16% Syrah, and 8% Grenache from Contra Costa and Sonoma Valley pressed whole cluster, fermented with native yeasts, and aged in stainless steel. Pale pink leaning towards salmon in the glass with notes of grapefruit, raspberry, and stone fruit on the nose. Medium bodied and dry with a savory finish and bright acidity. |
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Winemaker: Morgan Twain-Peterson MW |
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Price: $23.99 per bottle / 260.29 per case |
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Suggested Food Pairing: Grilled vegetables, grilled salmon, mandarin orange salad |
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Auntsfield Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc |
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Region: Malborough, New Zealand |
100% Sauvignon Blanc slow fermented in stainless steel and inoculated with cultured yeast. After fermentation, half of the wine underwent an extended period of lees contact before resting in the tank for about 2-3 months and then being blended back and bottled. Pale straw in the glass with a perfumed nose of fresh lime, passionfruit, and lemongrass. Medium bodied, round, with vibrant acidity, concentrated tropical citrus flavors and a dry mineral finish. |
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Winemaker: Luc Cowley |
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Price: $23.99 per bottle / $260.29 per case |
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Suggested Food Pairing: Fish and chips, shrimp scampi, Greek salad |
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Selbach Oster Dry Pinot Blanc |
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Region: Mosel, Germany |
100% Pinot Blanc fermented in stainless steel and old oak cask. Pale yellow with a nose of croissant, lemon, and apple. Shimmering acidity with a saline and mineral finish with a touch of pear. |
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Winemaker: Johannes Selbach |
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Price: $23.99 per bottle / 260.29 per case |
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Suggested Food Pairing: Grilled prawns, sushi, beef tartare, oysters |
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Elk Cove Estate Pinot Gris |
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Region: Willamette Valley, USA |
100% Pinot Gris with whole clusters pressed and fermented cold in stainless steel tanks. Pale yellow with notes of fresh stone fruit, melon, and ginger. Medium bodied with bright acidity and a dry, citrusy finish |
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Winemaker: Adam Campbell |
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Price: $20.99 per bottle / $247.44 per case |
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Suggested Food Pairing: Dim sum, dan dan noodles, mussels |
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Malat Furth Gruner Veltliner |
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Region: Kremstal, Austria |
100% Gruner Veltliner fermented in stainless steel and aged in large old oak casks for 3 months. Pale yellow green with notes of white pepper, green apple lemon curd, and baking spice. Dry and light medium bodied with zippy acidity and a citrusy finish. |
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Winemaker: Michael Malate |
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Price: $23.99 per bottle / 260.29 per case |
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Suggested Food Pairing: Smoked salmon, Korean style pickled cucumbers, tuna tartare |
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Artamaña Xarmant Txakoli de Alava |
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Region: Arabako Txakolina, Spain |
80% Hondarrabi Zuri and 20% Petit Courbú fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeast and aged for 2 months on the lees. Pale straw, with a notes of meyer lemon and lime. Light bodied with bright acidity and a fruity finish |
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Winemaker: Alava family |
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Price: $22.99 per bottle / 248.29 per case |
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Suggested Food Pairing: Aguachile, shrimp cocktail, fresh seafood |
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