Maestro, The New Pop Top Champagne Closure

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
May 18th 2009 at 7:02PM

We first heard about it in April but now we can take a look at the new system for opening Champagne. The Maestro opening system, developed by Alcan Packaging Capsules, looks similar to a regular champagne top but there is one big difference, a large lever on the side. Champagne house Duval-Leroy is the first to use the new closure, putting it on their cuvee Clos des Bouveries Vintage 2004. To open the bottle you simply lift up the lever (a video is after the jump). The closure does make a soft popping noise and is, if less elegant, certainly faster. The process is more like opening a can of soda than opening a wine bottle.

The new closure has similar benefits to the screwcap on still wine, the main selling point being that it eliminates cork taint. Prevention of the dreaded TCA has made the screwcap a favorite of wine producers and the public has caught on to the fact that a screwtop doesn't mean that the wine is cheap or of poor quality. I haven't seen it in person yet but there is something appealing about the lever that I believe lends itself to graceful pouring. I think this closure may catch on.

Tags: alcan, champagne, cork, maesto

Filed under: Wine

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

inny May 19th 2009 5:02AM

Screwcaps are a favorite of wine producers...

Like wine in a box is a favorite of wine producers.

This champagne bottle seal and opener...

is a unique selling proposition.

In marketing you have to create a product to differentiate yourself from the others.

So now they can charge you alot more for this selling proposition.

You can resubmit this entire article to The Onion.

just me May 19th 2009 11:23AM

I think it's funny that this man talks so much about how this closure makes drinking champagne "safe" and "no longer any danger". I've opened thousands of bottles of champagne and never had a mishap--knock on wood.

I do like the proper cork, so it will be interesting to see how this goes.