A new ‘wine access system’ is released

It used to be called a corkscrew but US manufacturer Coravin is so confident in its new technology that it has come up with a completely new name.

The new technology has been designed to allow wine drinkers to “pour and enjoy wine from their favourite bottles without pulling the cork.”

Wine expert Robert Parker called Coravin, “the most transformational and exciting new product for wine lovers that has been developed or invented in the last 30-plus years.”

The Coravin Wine Access System leaves the cork in place, which helps to protect the wine from oxidation and leaves the wine to evolve naturally.

The new technology works by passing a thin, hollow needle through the foil and cork and into the wine. The bottle is then pressurised with argon, an inert gas that is used by some winemakers. The pressure from the argon then pushes the wine back through the needle and into a glass without any oxygen getting into the bottle.

Once the needle is removed, the cork naturally reseals itself and the remaining wine “continues to evolve naturally”.

President and CEO of Coravin, Nick Lazaris, said: “Coravin Wine Access Technology solves the age-old problem that wine oxidizes after the cork is pulled. With the launch of this innovative product, we will transform the experience of pouring and enjoying wine for everyone from the casual wine enthusiast to the serious collector, to restaurants and wineries.”

The company hopes that this new system will enable restaurants to offer a broader selection of wines by the glass, as it should not lead to the oxidisation of wine.

Joe Bastianich, American restaurateur, winemaker, and Coravin investor, said: “As a winemaker myself, I was very protective of the delicate nature of wine and took special care with the by-the-glass offerings at each of my restaurants.

“Once I tried wine accessed six months prior with Coravin and tasted no difference, I knew this was a game changer. I now provide wine samples and glass selections from dozens of vintages and wines that we have never been able to offer, without any compromise in wine quality or waste.”

The Coravin 1000 system is now available for US$299.