Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

Screwing Around – Rosemount reveals screw cap snobbery this New Year

The pressure’s on – New Year’s Eve is ‘THE’ party night of the year and millions of us will be knocking on the neighbour’s door bottle in hand. But when someone says ‘bring a bottle’ what do they really mean?

Rosemount is starting a campaign to ban screw cap snobbery and it begins on New Year’s Eve! Picture the scene your host opens the door expectant of a bottle of champagne and you hand them a bottle of wine with a screw cap – they think ‘cheap skate’, but how wrong they are!

Research conducted by Rosemount shows that ‘screw cap snobbery’ still exists in fact, men are the worst culprits. 32% say they would be put off buying a bottle of wine with a capped closure.

BUT the tide is changing and screw caps are set to be the must-have wine accessory for 2007.

Women are leading the way with 77% saying they aren't put off by screw caps. In fact twice as many women as men said they were more likely to buy wine with a screw cap closure.

Rosemount’s wine maker Justin Knock comments: “New Year’s Eve is a celebration and for most that automatically means champagne, but we want to show people that you don’t need to pop a cork to have a good time! Screw caps are a sign of quality and ensure the wine reaches you exactly way it was intended to. 5% of cork sealed bottles are ruined by cork taint, while a screw caps airtight seal keeps the wines fresh and vibrant. Combine this with the fact and the fact that 90% of the wines we drink are consumed within the week of purchase, and the majority of those within 4-6 hours, and the snobbery factor around screw cap bottles soon disappears!”

If you’re planning a party, Rosemount offers some wine advice for the all-important party season:

•A champagne cork does not always mean quality. You get more for your money when you spend £15 on a fine wine versus £15 on an entry level champagne – a bottle of fine wine is just as likely to be saved for a special occasion these days

•When deciding how much to spend per bottle, bear in mind that even just spending £1 - £2 more than you usually would can make a big difference. The manufacturing costs don’t change you just get better wine for your money, and your guests will be able to taste the difference!

•When choosing which wine to use as your ‘bring a bottle’ if it’s a casual affair, then either a fresh white with good acidity such as Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon Chardonnay or a soft red like an Australian Grenache or Grenache Blend, a Beaujolais or Rioja Crianza/Joven.

•If it’s a dinner party, choose something more full-bodied or more structured such as a barrel-aged Chardonnay or a tannic Cabernet Sauvignon or robust Shiraz

•If you are hosting a gathering, getting your wine quantities right can be tricky. When buying wine, base it on the fact that you'll get on average 6 small glasses of wine per bottle or 3 extremely big ones! That way you won’t run out.

•It can be difficult to predict what your guests tastes will run to when choosing wine, but think about the male to female ratio of your guests. Men tend to drink more red, while women generally prefer white. Something else to bear in mind is that red wine is a more choice over the winter months, while white is the preferred choice in summer.

•Don’t risk trying to dazzle your friends with wine jargon unless you are a wine connoisseur! Instead start with the body – light, medium or full – which is related to the alcohol. You can tell pretty easily in the mouth but the alcohol is also printed on the label so anything under 12% is light bodied, 12-13% is medium bodied and 13.5%+ is definitely full-bodied. If you get carried away with flavours you risk looking weird and alienating people unless you really know what you’re talking about!

•Remember to drink responsibly!

Following the success of the leading Australian wine brand recent UK launch, Rosemount’s innovative new diamond shaped bottle has been capped off with the introduction of screw caps across its entire range – so whether you pay £6.49 or £25 – the bottle has a screw cap closure – the winemakers seal of approval. This, coupled with the launch of the stylish diamond shaped bottle, signals a new look for shelves in supermarkets and off licenses across the UK. The bottle shape is a first in the wine industry and reflects the brand’s iconic logo.

Rosemount wines are available at your local supermarket.

For more info on the range visit www.rosemountestate.co.uk or call 020 8843 8411.

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For further info, samples or tasting notes please contact:

Helen Mitchem or Julie Doyle
Rosemount press office at icas public relations
Tel: 020 7632 2400 or Email: rosemount@icas.co.uk