Let’s get to the core of the cork versus screw top debate.
Cork grows on a tree known as a Cork Oak. Yes, really. Cork tree forests can be found in places like Portugal, Spain, and Northern Africa. It takes upwards of 40 years for a cork tree to come to maturity and be suitable for cork stoppers!
The fact that cork is flexible, resistant to water, and biodegradable makes it the perfect natural material to get the job done when it comes to sealing wines, and it has been doing just that since ancient times. When quality issues entered the debate, however, some began to ardently argue that cork should go back to medieval times and take its corky tainting flavor with it. No cork = no corked wine.
Enter the screw top. Great if you’re without a cork screw. Not so great if you’re under the impression that a wine without a cork has to be inferior or cheap, which is not the case.
In reality, screw tops ensure the quality of your wine, without the threat of TCA cork flavor tainting your beloved wine. Not to mention… no floating bits of cork in your glass of Pinot. Best of all, you don’t have to find a stopper for after you open that bottle. The screw top endures when your cork cannot.
Cork or screw top? Both have their pros and cons, but neither is a guarantee of quality or price. What ultimately matters after all, is the taste.
You know what we say: #wineallthetime at Wine Awesomeness.
