A new entry in the closure wars

Last night, we had our research groups over for dinner. Jean had picked up some inexpensive wines to open, including a 2006 Woop Woop Shiraz, a simple, grapey and soft wine that went fairly well with the steaks and Jamaican jerk chicken (not so well with the plank-grilled salmon). The most unique feature of the Woop Woop, though, was the enclosure for the bottle. It looked like a black wax capsule, but was made of plastic. There was a tab on bottom to peel the plastic off, so I began. After removing a small amount of the plastic, the remaining piece lifted off the top of the bottle with a small hiss -- it was a hard plastic cap not unlike what's used on cheap CA sparkling wines, held under pressure! Neither Jean nor I had ever seen the like of this, and I couldn't find a name on the plastic remnants. Very entertaining for the low price of admission. Has anyone ever come across this closure before? Has it a name?

Mark Lipton

Your description of the closure sounds to me like it is a Zork.

The prime USP of this ridiculous closure is intended to offer a 'pop' sound when opened - which I'm assuming is the hiss noise you heard.

Zorks have been around for some years

Take a look at http://www.zork.com.au/

[Robin Garr]

The prime USP of this ridiculous closure is intended to offer a 'pop' sound when opened - which I'm assuming is the hiss noise you heard.

That might be a bit unfair, Peter. I'd say the primary purpose is to enter the market with another taint-free closure. As the Zork website points out:

ZORK is a patented, alternative wine closure that solves the problems of cork taint and oxidation, giving consumers:

* Convenience of use – no cork screw required;
* Confidence in the quality of the wine under seal; and
* Contemporary packaging matching the expectations of the modern wine consumer.

I wrote a wacky little article about Zork in 2006:
http://www.wineloverspage.com/wineadvis ... 60724.html

The prime USP of this ridiculous closure is intended to offer a 'pop' sound when opened - which I'm assuming is the hiss noise you heard.

That might be a bit unfair, Peter.

You think so? I think it is an ugly ridiculous device.

When the Zork people were promoting their closure at the London International Fair in 2005 the 'pop' was what they were selling. Apparently there are a lot of people who like a 'pop' noise when a traditional cork is removed and the Zork provides that. The 'pop' also works when you replace the Zork into an opened bottle and then take it out again. That is its 'competitive advantage' against a screwcap.

The three lines you quote are not specific to a Zork, they could be used for a screwcap. Its the 'pop' that drives Zork.


Incidentely, Mark, to answer you question. Woop Woop is sealed with Zork -- see http://www.zork.com.au/pdfs/ZORKstoryWoopWoop.pdf

I think it is an ugly ridiculous device.

I'm with you there.

...and here I thought this was going to be about the Vino-Lok glass stopper....but since I'm here, let me pile on: Yes, the Zork is stupid.

I actually like the Zork. It's good to have a few in the drawer for re-sealing cork closed bottles, especially bottles that had DIAM corks, which are very hard to re-insert into the bottle.

not really a Woop Woop fan, but might buy one just so I could weigh in here.

Incidentely, Mark, to answer you question. Woop Woop is sealed with Zork -- see http://www.zork.com.au/pdfs/ZORKstoryWoopWoop.pdf

Thanks, Peter. Yes, it was a Zork, but black as opposed to the red one on the home page. I admit that the name itself fills me with fond associations, but give me a Stelvin any day: simpler, easier to open (IMO), and less of an environmental impact.

Mark Lipton