Tinhorn Uses ScrewCap on Its Best Wine

TINHORN CREEK VINEYARDS IS THE FIRST
IN CANADA TO USE STELVIN CLOSURES

Oliver, BC.... Tinhorn Creek Vineyards has announced it will use Stelvin (twist-off) closures on its new super-merlot expected to be released under the Oldfield Collection label. It's the first Canadian winery to use a screwcap closure on a high-end, premium release. A portion of its recently bottled 'super-merlot' 2001 merlot was finished in Stelvin and it is expected to be sold in a two-pack alongside the same wine in a cork finished bottle allowing consumers to experience how the wines might differ. A recent amendment from the BC Wine Institute allows for alternate closures for wines bearing the British Columbia VQA label. The premium Tinhorn Creek merlot will be released in October 2004 and is expected to retail for $29.90. Winemaker Sandra Oldfield says, "We are aging the wine for an additional year; making this merlot a three-year aged wine - 16 months in the barrel and one year in the bottle. Tinhorn decided to experiment with a small percentage of Stelvin closures in its top wine to ensure there would be is no possibility of it being corked. Depending on the public's response, the winery will decide whether to increase that percentage or not.