I am the Sommelier at Le Cirque, in Las Vegas, and we offer a few selections with Stelvin screwcaps. The ones we offer are from Germany and Nez Zealand. It is interesting to note that some guests...

take note of this closure while others when presented with the "screwcap" vs. the traditional cork, may not even realize it or pay much attention to it. I allude this to either being unaware of our industry's technological advances and the reasons, and or the fact that they are moderate wine drinkers and it does not matter much to them. The more sofisticated drinkers realize what is happening and dont pay much attention to it. Regardless, their preferences more than likely contain the crok closure.

Regarding service of these wines, we do not state on our wine list the closure types. We do however (sommeliers) explain to the guests when opening the bottle 3 key things: (1) this particular selection iis sealed with a screwcap. We do this in case the guest has a particular dislike for stelvins screwcaps. If this is the case the guest has an opportunity to change their selection. (2) One small drawback to stelvins is the perforation of the metal cap. So we explain this to the guest to prevent a cut. (3) Finally, stelvins do no offer any benefit once the bottle is open, their work is done and as opposed to the tradional cork it has no merit. As a sommelier I always ask if I may remove the stelvin from the table. I have yet to see someone request to keep it which is different from corks which often time serve as a souvenire. Que interesante!!!

Do even a moderate number of "guests" really have a "dislike for stelvin screwcraps"? This is hard to imagine, but, what do I know.

I do suspect that you guys are making a bigger deal about simply by calling attention to it. If you were to just say nothing - afterall, the customer chose the wine (in most circumstances) - why should they be Fearing the Screwtop?

As a sommelier, if a customer looks askance as you open the screwtop, wouldn't a simple, "Screwtops aren't ever corked." statement said to to him in a quiet way be the way to go here?

It's interesting that you find that the more sophisticated drinkers order items with corks. How are you defining sophisticated? My definition is someone who chooses a wine appropriate to the food at hand and the palates of the people at the table. Whether that's from inspecting the wine list or consulting with the sommelier doesn't matter. It has nothing to do with the style of wine said sophisticate is willing to order. I'd think that someone ordering a NZ Sauvignon Blanc for a complementary dish is more sophisticated then someone ordering a Bordeaux to go with the same dish.

And I would want the screw cap to stay on the table, on the off chance that I don't finish the wine and want to bring it home. This is, of course, allowed under CA state law, so it's perhaps an unusual viewpoint.