Designed by Alcoa Closure Systems International, Vino-Seal provides an ideal seal protecting the wine's purity, flavor and bouquet. The innovative stopper has an upscale design, similar to a traditional crystal decanter, and is an elegant alternative to traditional cork. Vino-Seal combines the glass stopper with an inert o-ring to provide a hermetic seal. The patented design prevents oxidation and contaminates from entering the bottle, while retaining desirable free sulfur levels. In addition, no corkscrew is needed for opening the bottle and the wine can be resealed with the closure.

"Independent market research indicates there are three benefits winemakers look for when selecting a wine stopper: The stopper must protect the flavor and aroma of the wine, the closure must easily integrate into a bottling line, and it must deliver a premium image. Vino-Seal meets these requirements," said Laura Clark, Adult Beverage Marketing Manager, Alcoa CSI.

Leal Vineyards Selects Vino-Seal
Leal Vineyards Owner Frank Leal recently chose the glass closure for its 2005 Sauvignon Blanc. "The decision to use Vino-Seal was an easy one, because of its excellent attributes. Avoiding TCA taint (corked bottles) is the most important benefit, but the elegant look and simplicity of a glass closure creates a truly cutting-edge package. We were able to easily integrate Vino-Seal into our existing bottling line without incurring additional costs," said Leal.

Leal Vineyards new Sauvignon Blanc fits a needed niche for the winery, adding an "alternative white" alongside the Leal Chardonnay. It is Leal's first release of a white wine not carrying a San Benito County appellation. In this case, the fruit source was an award-winning vineyard near Clear Lake on the North Coast; the wine bears a Lake County AVA designation. Only 843 cases were produced; the Leal Sauvignon Blanc retails for $24 at the winery's tasting room. It's clean, crisp fruit expression and balancing acidity is sure to be a crowd pleaser for pairing to summer's lighter fare.