Corks are the classic choice in the question of what goes between you and your wine. However, there’s been some surprising proof that shows how the corks vs. screw caps argument is not as black and white as it seems.
Which is better: corks or screw caps? If you say corks are better, you’re both right and wrong. The truth is, the worldwide demand for wine (and corks) is growing, so we should get familiar with the future of wine preservation. Take a closer look at why corks and cork alternatives are nearly identical in terms of their ability to store and age wine. Then preview some alternatives to wine storage to get you thinking about where the wine world is going.
Corks
Corks have been the preferred choice for closing wine since the beginning of modern Europe in the 1400’s. Why? Well, cork bark is one of the few natural products that is malleable enough to hold the contents inside a glass bottle. Glass bottles became more popular to store wine during this very same era.
Fast forward to today and there be a unique set of pros and cons to natural cork:
Cork: Pros
A Natural Renewable Resource
Historically Preferred
Long-term Aging Proven
Cork: Cons
Expensive (2-3x)
1-3% Affected by TCA ‘Cork’ Taint
Limited Natural Resource
Variable Quality
Natural Corks Breathe at Variable Rates
Screw Caps and Cork Alternatives
Screw caps have only been used in wine since 1964, but they’ve rapidly become a large share of the market. If you ever travel to Australia, you’ll notice that screw caps are on nearly every single bottle in the country. The reason cork alternatives have become so popular is because of a period of decreased quality cork manufacturing during the 1980’s. Basically, winemakers were tired of getting low quality corks that would cause TCA ‘cork’ taint, so they switched.
Besides screw caps (made of metal and plastic), there are several ‘fake’ corks made from plastics to plant-based polymers.
Today, the pros and cons of several cork alternatives look like this:
Cork Alternatives: Pros
More Affordable Option
No TCA ‘Cork’ Taint
Long-term aging studies have shown positive results
Screwcaps are easy to open
Cork Alternatives: Cons
Some cork alternatives don’t breathe
Mostly Made From Non-Renewable Resources
Recyclable but Not Biodegradable
Variable Manufacturing Quality
Associated with ‘Cheap’ Wine
But aren’t corks better because they ‘breath’?
The long-time argument that corks are better because they breathe has been dispelled as ‘breath’ is now emulated in both screw caps and cork alternatives. Today you can buy screw caps with calculated levels of ‘oxygen ingress’ overtime. Ironically, real corks are actually quite variable with their oxygen ingress rates.
Are you saying that Screwcaps are better than corks?
Not at all, although for most applications cork alternatives are better simply because of the quality for the price. I challenge you the next time you buy an affordable wine at the grocery; more often than not it won’t be a 100% natural cork. Instead the bottle will be closed with a technical, agglomerated and colmated cork, which are low quality alternatives to natural cork. These sub-par products are also just as unreliable with their likeliness to cause cork taint.
100% natural corks are one of the only options that are a true renewable resource but because of their high price tag, most are reserved for wines in the $30+ bottle range.
By Madeline Puckette
I’m a certified wine geek with a passion for meeting people, travel, and delicious food. You often find me crawling around dank cellars or frolicking through vineyards. Find her at@WineFolly
***Grabbed from: http://winefolly.com/tutorial/corks-vs-screw-caps/