A very interesting article Phil and I agree with the comment: "The thin rattle of a metal screw-top cap being removed just isn't the same." - give me a proper cork everytime.
However, the use of synthetic corks and screwcaps or ROPP as they call them in the trade (roll-on-pilfer-proofs) was a response to two major issues, firstly an increase in cork contamination or 'corked' bottles of wine mainly due to poor hygiene from the cork suppliers. And secondly, as more and more wine is sold quite young in supermarkets for immediate drinking, rather than laying down, there is no need for the wine to interact with oxygen to be aged.
This is particularly true of white wines and has been very much a new world initiative, but the traditional producers and marketeers of wine have also jumped on the alternative closure band-wagon. For good quality red wines, that spend time in the bottle, there is no real substitute for traditional cork imho, to ensure the ideal ageing environment.
I believe that corks still seal some 60% plus of all wine bottles, and to quote your article writer again: "Is there any sound in the world that holds greater promise than the gentle pop of a cork being pulled from a wine bottle?"
If we also help the environment whilst drinking wine what greater incentive is there?
