The Second Glass

As a server and bartender, I am a huge fan of screw caps. Working at a restaurant that features over 40 glasses of wine by the glass, I adore the ability to just screw the cap back on and rest assured that the wine will still be delicious when the next person (in 2 hours, or 2 days) orders that particular glass.
Technically speaking, screw caps are superior to corks as closures. They eliminate the threat of oxidation and cork taint. They maintain a long term reliable seal. Who wouldn’t like that?
Apparently, the couple who ordered a bottle of Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand two weeks ago. Ordering it upon my recommendation (I adore the crisp grapefruit flavors and slight tang) they seemed dismayed when I presented a screw top wine.

After opening, and tasting, they loved it. When I explained the benefits of screw top closures, the man sighed and agreed but said, “Yeah, but can’t you do anything about the process of opening the bottle?”
Making that my mission, I elaborately presented my next screw top bottle with flourish and aplomb. I would sneakily cover the top of the bottle with a cloth, sneak my hands underneath, slowly twist, and pray that the guest did not notice the lack of the cork presentation.
I failed misreably. Everytime I attempted this “advanced opening technique” people would look at me like I had two heads and mutter “It’s a screw top, just unscrew it”. Worst of all was the time my hands were slippery and I literally could not twist the cap off. The man who ordered the wine, laughed and said “Want me to get that for you?” and proceeded to crack open the wine right in front of me. I believe I turned the shade of the Pinot Noir he was drinking.
I was troubled. One table believes my screw top opening technique needs more polishing, while the rest are bored by my theatrics and desperate need to “class up” the presentation. What is the answer?
Tom and Shari Scholten, owners of the Fritz Alpine Bistro in Keystone, Colorado, may just have the answer. Having a hard time selling screw capped wine because many guest preferred the presentation of the cork and corkscrew, they invented a tool to open screw capped wine. It’s call the Wine Fritz.

As you can see, it is basically an empty, metal cylinder that fits over the top of the bottle, pulls off the cap, and holds it.
Is this the answer to my prayers? With this tool will I be suave and smooth and convince my tables that screw capped wine is not “less” of a wine than its corked cousin?
Eh, at $39.95 a pop, I’ll keep perfecting my own “hands on” technique.