The Australian Wine Research Institute has become aware that reports have appeared in various media, including the Adelaide Advertiser and various wine industry websites, that The Australian Wine Research Institute has endorsed NuKorc’s wine bottle closure.
An article appeared in the Adelaide Advertiser of 20 January 2001, an extract of which stated:
“Mr Dolling said NuKorc’s edge was that its closures were extruded from continuous lengths of polyethylene and cut to fit the bottle rather than moulded. Scientists at the Australian Wine Research Institute claim NuKorc’s product is the ‘most technically correct synthetic closure available’. The synthetic corks had an even cell structure compared to moulded corks and held to the bottle wall better, keeping oxygen out, Mr Dolling said”.
NuKorc, through Mr Ben Atkins, has indicated that it would never make such a statement, and has written to the Adelaide Advertiser denying that Mr Dolling made the statement regarding The Australian Wine Research Institute.
On “News and Views” at http://www.decanter.com NuKorc is reported as saying:
“their extruded stopper (it is made in a long ‘sausage’ and then cut up) is denser than rival Supremecorq, which is moulded. Backed by detailed scientific analysis from the Australian Wine Research Institute, they claim it is ‘the most technically correct synthetic closure available’ “
Press releases on the Wine Pros and Vintage Cellars Australia websites, report Mr Dolling of NuKorc at a London tasting as saying:
“We believe that NuKorc is the most technically correct closure available because its microcell structure is more even and dense than our moulded competitors”.
The report goes on to say:
“The wines presented were backed by detailed analysis from the Australian Wine Research Institute.”
The Australian Wine Research Institute has never made any claim to the effect that NuKorc’s product is the most technically correct synthetic closure available, and is most concerned at the appearance of incorrect media reports that it has done so. As an independent industry body The Australian Wine Research Institute considers it to be of the greatest importance that its reputation not be compromised by having incorrect assertions of its support for commercial products appear in the press. The Australian Wine Research Institute hopes that this press release will be sufficient to prevent any further such reports being published, and at the same time rectify any wrong impressions that the media reports may have created.
MR PETER GODDEN
Winemaker and Manager Industry Services
PROF. PETER HØJ
Director
The Australian Wine Research Institute
Telephone: 08 83 03 66 00; fax: 08 83 03 66 01; email: Peter.Godden@awri.com.au and Peter.Hoj@awri.com.au