Duval-Leroy debuts champagne ‘easy stopper’

Revellers need no longer be in danger from flying corks thanks to a new ‘easy stopper’ that aims to make opening champagne a risk-free affair.

Alcan Packaging has pioneered the new aluminium and plastic stopper, dubbed the Maestro, on 2,000 bottles of premium Duval-Leroy cuvee.

The packaging group spent £885,000 developing the new stopper, which uses a lever to pry open a plastic seal and retains the distinctive ‘pop’ of regular corks.

“At first we tried a screwtop but found the symbolic noise was not there,” Alcan commercial director Bruno de Saizieu told The Times. “It was our priority to keep this specific and evocative sound of champagne opening.”