Many participants on our wine country group trips have shown interest in understanding why some wineries use real cork and others synthetic corks in their wine bottles. In reading articles and talking with wine makers and others in the wine industry, we have pulled together some of the information we have learned.
Synthetic corks are on the rise. Technology being what it is today has created a synthetic cork called Select Bio. Not only does this fake cork work like a real cork in that it allows very small amounts of oxygen to enter the bottle, it’s made from 100 percent recyclable materials. These synthetic corks make life a lot easier because they ensure that “cork taint” does not occur. This term refers to a wine fault characterized by a set of undesirable smells or tastes found in a bottle of wine, especially spoilage that can only be detected after bottling, aging, and opening.
Select Bio or synthetic corks look just like wood corks but make sure that you are able to enjoy a perfect wine drinking experience rather than having to worry about corks breaking and falling into your delicious wine. Corks represent the state of the art for wine closures and it really does affect your overall wine experience. The current generation of closures does not interact with the wine (at least that is what the maker of a synthetic cork, Nomacorc is saying) and allows the winemaker to select the micro-amounts of oxygen that best suit the wine. Sounds perfect right?
This by all means does not mean that natural corks will be disappearing anytime soon. Both synthetic and natural corks have their own pros and cons. The downsides to using synthetic cork are that they are difficult to compress, harder to get in the bottle, and more difficult to remove as well. The downsides to natural corks are that they easily dry out and must stay wet to protect the wine. When these natural corks dry out they become dry, brittle, and easy to break. Oxygen can enter through these cracks, and this could eventually change the chemistry of the wine. If left unnoticed, this could ruin the wine before it can even be opened.
Scientific studies have been done on both artificial and real corks. Many wine lovers like synthetic closures and others enjoy natural. It is interesting to hear different people opinions on this topic. Regardless of whether you prefer synthetic or natural cork stops, cork stoppers in general are the preferred choice. Often, consumers associate cork stoppers with the quality of wine and the act of opening a bottle of wine contributes to its special flavor. It is not just because of the celebratory sounds of a cork being pulled out of a bottle, but it is because many consumers associate cork stoppers with good or fine quality wine.
So what will you choose, synthetic or natural? Either way, we hope you always enjoy your wine and the people you with whom you share your experience.
Here’s to great wine and unique events!
Myrna Orphan