Stelvin® FAQ
What are the advantages of the Stelvin® concept?
Stelvin(R) is a contemporary packaging solution which offers many benefits for wine makers & lovers alike.
The aluminum screw cap guarantees an absence of 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA), the chief cause of cork taint, resulting in a significant reduction in wine spoilage. It conserves the aromas, flavor and freshness of the wine just as the wine maker intended.
Amcor has a wide range of attractive screw caps which offer extensive & intricate design possibilities.
A Stelvin closure is easy-to-open and allows the wine lover to reclose the bottle if they do not consume all the contents. Bottles with Stelvin closures are easy to store, ship and are suitable for away-from-home consumption as well as the more traditional wine occasions.
What experience does Amcor have?
The Stelvin concept for wine was invented more than 40 years ago and is now a part of Amcor, one of the world's largest packaging companies. The Stelvin cap was the first wine screw cap and today is the global leader.
Our experience is multi-layered: we both created the concept and over the years have developed significant technical know how allowing us to support our customers in their choice of capping machines, production optimization & product design (decoration & liner choice).
The Swiss wine makers were the first to use Stelvin® to a great extent. In 2000, wine makers in America, Australia and New Zealand began to convert from cork to
Stelvin®. France, Germany, Chile & Argentina followed in 2002.
The phenomenal increase in use of aluminum screw caps for wine in the last 10 years (300 million to 3.5 billion! ) bears witness to the fact that wine makers around the world are more and more convinced by the benefits of the aluminum screw cap.
How does the wine maker know which liner will best preserve his / her wine?
Firstly the Stelvin® closure is suitable for all types of wine - red, white or rosé. The liners developed by Amcor offer a highly technical way of sealing the bottle. Thanks to the liner specification, the wine breathes and ages in a uniform way from one bottle to another. In fact the liner itself breathes & allows for an optimal oxygen exchange with the wine.
There are currently two different liners on the market offering two different levels of oxygen barrier. Saranex™ & Saran™ Tin.
As Saranex™ allows more oxygen to pass through than Saran™ Tin, it is usually preferred for red wines and wines which are made to be consumed within 2 – 3 years.
As Saran™ Tin has higher barrier levels allowing less oxygen to pass through, it is usually preferred for white wines and wines which are made to be conserved more than 5 years.
The choice of the liner is really important for the post-bottling ageing of the wine. This choice is also linked to many other parameters (grape type, polyphenol content, inerting method, etc). Whilst Amcor can offer its experience & helps to advise customers in their choice, the choice of a liner is a major decision for the wine maker him or herself.
What tamper evidence system does the Stelvin® screw cap offer?
The consumer can easily determine if the wine has been tampered with as the bridge line will have been broken.
Why does the Stelvin® screw cap stop the wine from being tainted?
The chief cause of cork taint is the presence of 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA) in the wine. In many cases this will have been transferred from the cork, but it also can be transferred through the cork rather than from it. Corked wine containing TCA has an unpleasant characteristic odor.
Because there is no cork in the Stelvin® screw cap, there is no cork taint.
All materials used in the Stelvin® screw cap are perfectly neutral from an organoleptic point of view and preserve the flavors of the wine.
Can I have the same design on a Stelvin(R) screw cap as on my current over cap which fits over the cork?
Absolutely. The Stelvin® skirt can be printed in up to 6 colors thanks to the different techniques used by Amcor. In addition the Stelvin®+ product offers the possibility of ink embossing on the top of the screw cap which is an attractive design feature.
We can either reproduce your current design or propose enhanced designs based on your requirements.
Do I need to use a special bottle with Stelvin®?
Yes. The Stelvin® screw cap requires a special glass bottle finish know as BVS. STELVIN® screw cap must be used with a standardized neck finish:
- BVS finish BVP-GME 30.13
- BVS finish US-GPI 1680-03
There is a wide range of bottles already available with the BVS system. For detailed information regarding glass producers who work with Stelvin® & the BVS system, we recommend you contact one of our sales people.
Do I need to modify my bottling line to use the Stelvin(R) screw cap?
The capping system is different from that of a traditional capsule. It requires a forming head to mould the liner to the glass finish. For detailed information regarding capping machine manufacturers who work with Stelvin®, we recommend you contact one of our sales people.
Can I store my bottles on their side?
Yes you can. The Stelvin® screw cap concept gives total freedom allowing for the bottle to be stored and transported in all positions.
Is aluminum a compatible material with wine?
Aluminum is widely used in food packaging and also for pharmaceuticals products. In the case of the Stelvin® screw cap, the aluminum used to make the shell of the screw cap is not in contact with the wine.
Stelvin®: why aluminum screw caps make sense
Wine is a very valuable product. The purpose of the packaging system (glass bottle and closure) is to protect the wine in the best possible way, to minimize or eliminate spoilage and waste. Even just a little spoilage, including spoilage due to cork taint, has a much higher environmental impact than the impact that comes from producing the bottle closure. When considering the product (wine) and the packaging (bottle and closure) together, Stelvin® aluminum screw caps are more sustainable than cork stoppers. They lead to reduced overall environmental impacts by eliminating spoilage due to cork taint.
