The Wine Knows

Northwest Totem Cellar in Woodinville, Wash., has switched all of its red wine closures to the glass Vino-Seal. A handful of Northwest wineries, including Sineann, Syncline, Solena and Barking Frog, have begun to use the Alcoa product, an elegant alternative to corks and screwcaps.

Alcoa actually makes two versions of this stopper, in glass and acrylic. The latter is quite a bit less expensive. The entire package creates a perfect seal and is protected by foil or metal.

Best of all, no cork taint and no need for a special tool to get to the wine.

Mike Sharadin is the owner/winemaker of Northwest Totem Cellars, a fairly new producer whose first releases have been well received.

Want more info on the Vino-Seal? Here's a column I wrote a couple of years ago when Sinnean began using it.