Following the cork-taint scare, the cork industry set out to improve both its product and its image. Cork producers invested in new equipment and worked to refine production techniques, contributing to a sharp decline in tainted wine. Once stripped from the tree, the cork bark grows back and is harvested again a decade later.
Stripping a cork oak of its bark also enhances its ability to absorb carbon dioxide ; in Portugal alone, cork trees help offset over 10 million tons of CO 2 every year.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, these forests contain the highest levels of plant diversity found anywhere in the world —reaching levels of species per square meter—while also providing a habitat for endangered animal species like the Iberian lynx and Barbary deer. Demand for cork products, especially wine stoppers, helps preserve the cork forests, which would otherwise be neglected or replaced with non-native trees.
The damage control appears to be working, at least in part. Recently, I asked the manager of my favorite bottle shop if anyone bought cork anymore. Because glass bottles inherently pass no oxygen, a cork is an essential component that develops the aging aroma and flavor that consumers enjoy in their favorite wines and spirits. Have a great drink idea? Flavorman can help you bring it to life. Give us a call at or contact our team through this webform. We use cookies to offer you a better experience, analyze site traffic, and serve targeted ads.
Because many Americans still believe screw caps signify low-quality wine. But should you judge a wine by its closure? Cultural preconceptions aside, the stopper can tell a great deal about the wine it encloses. It can hint at longevity, quality, culture and history.
We spend the most of our time focused on what lies within the bottle. Evidence of its usage dates back to the ancient Greeks and Romans. Renewable resource. Cork is derived from the bark of Quercus suber , also known as the cork oak tree. These evergreens, the majority of which grow in Portugal and Spain, are abundant and strictly protected. Cork oaks regenerate their outer layer of bark, which allows them to be harvested about once every decade.
With a lifespan of up to years, one tree can provide cork for thousands of bottles, which makes it the most ecologically sound material to seal a bottle. The visceral ritual helps cork retain its dominance, even in the face of stiff competition. Thank You! We've received your email address, and soon you will start getting exclusive offers and news from Wine Enthusiast. Cellar worthiness. Thanks to its elasticity, cork expands within a bottleneck to seal liquid in and keep oxygen out.
Its tiny pores, however, allow minuscule amounts of air to interact with the wine, which can transform the aroma and flavor over time. This makes cork the top choice for producers of ageworthy wines.
Susceptible to taint. While harmless, the compound can transfer to the wine and cause aromas of wet cardboard, damp basement or wet dog. Cork taint, however, could soon be a thing of the past.
Recently several companies—including the worlds biggest cork producer, Amorim—have unveiled new methods to remove TCA from their natural cork closures, effectively eliminating cork taint from their production. Cork is a natural product, and each is slightly different. Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders.
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