20 April 2011
Posted in The Science of Wine
Cork is a naturally sustainable product and can only add to the quality of the wine. Cork is both biodegradable and recyclable. The production of cork is different than most harvesting products. In order to harvest cork, the cutting down of trees is not necessary. “Unlike its synthetic counterparts, cork is an inherently sustainable resource, both renewable and biodegradable. The cork oak tree (Quercus suber) is unique in that its thick bark can be stripped off every decade to extract the cork without damaging the trees, which can live 170 to 250 years on average.” (100percentcork.org)
Most winemakers would agree that cork can add to the quality of the wine better than any type of closure. In the Wine Business Monthly 2009 Closure Report, wineries rated closures by perceived consumer acceptance. Natural cork received the highest marks. A more direct study of consumer perception was conducted by the Oregon State University Food Innovation Center. It found that consumers perceived wine finished with cork to have higher quality and price than the same wine finished in alternative closures. (100percentcork.org).
You can learn about all things wine at our first annual Science of Wine event. If you’re planning a trip to the Science Center before the event, you can guess the amount of corks displayed in the lobby to receive various prizes. Good luck and happy guessing!