Useless fact
What is the foil on a wine bottle called?
The protective metal foil or plastic sleeve covering the cork and neck of a wine bottle is called a capsule.
The protective covering on the neck of a wine bottle is known in winemaking and packaging as a capsule. Originally made from lead to protect corks from rodents, insects, and humidity in damp wine cellars during long aging periods, modern capsules are primarily produced from tin, aluminum, polylaminate, or heat-shrinkable plastic due to health concerns regarding lead contamination. Beyond historical pest protection, the capsule serves to prevent tamper attempts, protect the cork from drying out prematurely or accumulating mold, and provide an aesthetic finishing element to the bottle presentation. Winemakers often customize capsules with distinctive colors, logos, or embossed emblems to assist brand identification. During serving, a sommelier uses a small foil cutter blade attached to a waiter's corkscrew to slice the capsule cleanly just below the lower ring of the bottle neck, ensuring that no poured wine comes into contact with any raw foil edges or residue.
Why this is true — Standard reference dictionaries and professional winemaking terminology define the protective foil or plastic sheath over a wine bottle cork and neck as a capsule.
Sources
- CAPSULE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary Cambridge University Press