Wine cork has always been distinguished by its functional feature - it was used to close bottles with drinks. In ancient times, bottles were covered with bark of trees, various improvised materials and even stones. But, as you know, progress is taking great strides, and he also touched on wine corks.
Today, cork for bottles for wine is not only a way to close the bottle, but also an accessory with its aesthetic function. There are even designer wine corks with a very unusual look. The cost of such a cork is sometimes higher than the cost of the bottle itself with quality wine.
Common corks today are also presented in a wide variety: vacuum corks, glass, traditional, corks for a bottle of wine with a knob, etc. Each type has its own specific characteristics that determine safety, quality and ease of opening.
In this article we will analyze in detail the types of corks for bottles of wine, find out what they are made of, and discuss their advantages and disadvantages.
Traditional wine cork
Traditional bottle caps are made from oak bark and are distinguished by their finely porous structure. Such a cork passes a little air through itself, which contributes to the ripening of the wine, improves its aroma, taste, color.
Bottles with such corks must be stored horizontally so that the lid material does not dry out and the alcoholic beverage does not deteriorate. At the same time, specialists do not exclude a possible defect in the cork - the content of bacteria and trichloroanisole in the material, which negatively affect the taste and smell of the drink. Prevention of this defect is impossible, therefore, according to the legislation, winemakers are obliged to replace the damaged product with another.
Recently, various types of natural corks have become very popular. High quality material and modern product design are ideal for a variety of wines.
Agglomerated (pressed) wine cork
Agglomerated cork for wine bottles is made from crushed scraps of oak bark, which are mixed with synthetic materials with which pieces of bark are optimally glued. Subsequently, the plugs themselves are formed from this mass.
They have a fairly affordable price, and mixing materials eliminates the negative impact on the alcoholic beverage. Of the minuses, it can be noted that the material practically does not breathe, so wine with such corks can not be stored for a long time.
Glass wine corks
Sometimes wine bottles are covered with glass corks. They have their advantages:
- They differ in beautiful appearance;
- guarantee reliable and tight capping;
- comply with environmental standards;
- good wine under such a cork can remain tasty and of high quality for a long time.
But there are also disadvantages to glass corks:
- they are treated with a special polymer to ensure tightness;
- wine does not ripen, that is, its taste and aromatic characteristics do not improve;
- the biggest disadvantage is the high cost.
Synthetic cork
A synthetic cork for wine bottles is an actual option for the 21st century. For the manufacture of synthetic products, oil, corn or sugarcane is traditionally used. If low-quality material is used, this can lead to an unpleasant odor in the wine.
Synthetic corks also have their advantages:
- simple to manufacture;
- their cost is low;
- you can determine the amount of air that enters the wine.
Wine corks
The plastic cork is based on synthetic plastic, but foaming technology is excluded. Such corks very tightly close the bottle, while opening it can be quite difficult. Typically, plastic products cover inexpensive sparkling wines.
Screw caps
The screw cap for the wine bottle is made of aluminum alloy with an internal plastic gasket that prevents air from entering the bottle. Such corks are becoming increasingly popular in winemaking, as high-quality drinks retain a pleasant taste until the very opening. However, drinks with such caps cannot be stored for a long time.
Even expensive drinks, which have an impeccable taste, are covered with screw caps.
Vacuum Stoppers for Wine Bottles
Vacuum corks are very popular today, as they are convenient to use if you need to keep the drink in an already open bottle. Everyone knows that a good quality wine, if stored open for more than a day, loses its taste and aromatic qualities.
The vacuum cork, as it were, pumps air out of the bottle, due to this the wine can be stored for up to 30 days. In appearance, such a cork is no different from ordinary. The materials used in the manufacture may come into contact with food.
Speaking of popular wine corks, one cannot but mention the cork of the OXO company. OXO wine bottle stopper is suitable for short-term storage of wine, universal for all types of bottles. It features a soft, comfortable lever and sturdy stainless steel construction.
These are the most popular wine corks, but in fact there are much more varieties of them. Wine corks can be purchased not only for their intended use, but also as a stylish accessory or gift item. Of course, they all differ in quality, ease of use, but each of the varieties has its advantages and disadvantages, which means it deserves attention.