New data suggests that there is a widening gap between the average bottle price of cork-closed wine and wine that is sealed with alternative closures. According to research from on-trade analysts CGA, bottles with cork account on average for over $4 more per bottle than those with screwcap or other closures. The research looked at sales figures for the top 50 still wine brands by volume. Volume figures also pointed to more cork-closed wine being sold in general. The data showed an increase in the price of cork-closed wine of over 11 percent since 2015, compared to a 6 percent increase for alternative closures. Volume numbers showed an even bigger disparity with cork wines having grown by 48 percent since 2015, compared to a 10 percent increase for alternative closures.
Alternative caps may be the future, but the data shows that consumers right now still prefer their traditional cork closures.
Source: Harpers.co.uk, October 2017