Just as technology has almost wiped out the use of typewriters, pagers and the snail mail, another tradition may be bound to history books due to technological innovations.

It's not another electronic gadget but a new screw cap on champagne which could make the cork pop an obsolete and forgotten sound. Australian winery Taylors introduced the new seal which can withstand the pressure of gassed sparkling wine.

It is similar to screw caps already used by white and red table wine producers in Australia. Although the crown seals similar to that used by beer bottles is being adapted by a small but growing number of Australian winemakers, wine connoisseurs insisted the champagne pop could still remain on the party scene.

"Nothing beats the cork when it comes time for a celebration," The Herald Sun quoted Master of Wine Andrew Caillard.

However, Mr Caillard concedes that the screw cap is not a bad idea because it means unconsumed champagne could still retain its fizz by simply putting on the cap and storing the remaining wine in the fridge.

Taylors shifted to screw caps in 2004 due to problems with cork taints that resulted in spoilage of 10 per cent of its white wines. Taylors Managing Director Mitchell Taylor said the use of the new seal on sparkling wine is on a trial basis for 10 per cent of their production to test the market.

He assured wine drinkers the screw cap will not result in loss of freshness or fizz based on Taylor's initial trials. He added, the price of wines would not be affected by the new technology.

Mr Taylor expects dining establishments and caterers to jump into the bandwagon because of the convenience the new cap offers.

However, a 2010 study by Wakefield Research found that champagne is no longer the preferred drink of males for toasting rites. In lieu, 60 per cent of men opt for beer.

That is the reason why a growing number of brewers are manufacturing special edition beers designed to be used for special occasions that call for a toast. Among such products are Boston Beer's Brewlywed Ale aimed at the wedding party market, Samuel Adam's Infinium marketed as a New Year's Eve toast and Pelican Pub's Bridal Ale, originally brewed for the wedding party of its two employees in Oregon.

However, experts said that these toast beers must have a cork, which is part of the celebratory moment.

"No one is going to get excited by the sound of 'pfftt' followed by an aluminum cap clinking on a countertop," reasoned out writer Jim Galligan, who is also the co-founder of the Beer and Whiskey Brothers blog.

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