A "glass-on-glass" wine closure system developed as an alternative to traditional corks and synthetic stoppers has been launched by Alcoa Closure Systems International (Alcoa CSI) and is now in commercial production at its Worms plant in Germany. The factory is already supplying the Vino-Lok to over 100 EU wineries, and there have been several "commitments" form New World winemakers. The closure, made with rubberised O-rings for a sterile seal that prevents contamination or oxidation, resembles a decorative decanter stopper. An aluminium overcap provides tamper evidence and mechanical protection. Removing this reveals the "user-friendly" stopper. Alcoa says a one year independent test conducted by scientists and wine experts showed the Worldstar-winning Vino-Lok meets similar technical and taste performance parameters to traditional wine closures.
