SAVOUR Manitoba

Corks 36 SAVOUR MANITOBA | SPRING 24 C orks are not the only way to encapsulate a quality wine. Over the years, many other en- closures have been developed; however, this misconception still exists. Corks have been used for thousands of years as a reliable way to close bottles — and for good reason. One reason why winemakers would select a cork closure is because they help the wines develop. Cork allows a small amount of oxygen to enter the bottle, which is needed to assist the aging process of fine wines. Over years, a great wine can develop into an excellent wine simply through the presence of oxygen and superior storage. In this case, the cork is the winemaker's friend to achieve what was an original vision of the wine. However, only a small percentage of wines are created with long-term aging in mind. Approximately 90 per cent are made for immediate consumption once delivered to the store. In this case, a real cork enclosure is not needed and the winemakers can look at other options. Screw caps, for instance, are handy for the consumer, while glass Vinoloks offer beauty into the packaging fray. Nonethe- less, corks still seem to have the tradition- al upper hand. ere is a ritualistic aspect to pulling a cork and then hearing that pop sound when opening a bottle. Perhaps part of the screw cap stigma is related to the cork ritual. Many people still believe that only quality wines use real cork enclosures and that all cheap wines come in a screw cap. is is not the case. Lots of producers are moving towards screw caps because it reduces the risk of cork taint in the wine. Wines that have been sealed with a cork with cork taint are commonly referred to as a corked wine. Cork taint, also known as trichloroan- isole, is a chemical compound found in infected corks that can give off flavours in your wine — think wet dog or musty basement. Since most wine producers buy corks as opposed to making their own, getting a corked wine is just bad luck and doesn't reflect on the quality of the wine. However, it is nonetheless disappointing to the producer to put their blood, sweat and tears into their wine just to have it come out faulted because of the enclosure they chose. Many of the top wine producers in the world such as Penfolds and Bonny Doon are starting to use screw caps for this reason. When sealed properly, screw caps do not introduce potential flaws in the wine — and that should be the most important thing, rather than worrying about the status of opening a bottle with a cork in it. At the end of the day, the only thing that should indicate quality wine is what is inside the bottle, not what is enclosing it! CLOSURE ON CORK CLOSURE

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