| What
is Corked Wine? by Neil Best
Keeping a wine bottle sealed is probably the most important
factor when it comes to maintaining a good wine.
A cork is essential, as it keeps oxygen
out of the wine bottle. If a bottle of wine is not airtight
then it may become oxidized and undrinkable
Traditionally, the only corks worth
considering were those actually made of cork. Recently,
however, many wine experts have recognized that cork
may actually cause more problems than it solves.
Cork, due to its malleable nature may
have imperfections; these can result in the seal of
the bottle not being as airtight as it could be and
the wine being spoilt. In an attempt to avoid this problem,
modern cork manufacturers may treat the cork with a
chemical called TVA. Unfortunately, this chemical can
cause the wine to taste and smell a little damp and
musty.
Having said this, cork is able to expand
to fully fill the neck of the bottle, which therefore,
still makes it the preferred option for special wines
that need to be stored, over a long period of time.
Plastic corks are becoming increasing
popular, of late. One of the main problems associated
with traditional corks is that the wine becomes 'corked'.
Plastic corks prevent this occurring. Great! I hear
you say. However, there can be minor irritations with
plastic corks. A plastic cork can sometimes be difficult
to extract from the bottle and virtually impossible
to fit back into a half drunk bottle.
Another recent development is the widespread
use of screw-top bottles. Until recently, this type
of seal was used for only the cheapest of wines. Wine
producers across the globe are now recognizing the benefits
that screw tops provide. This type of seal ensures that
wine is kept fresh; there is no chance of the wine becoming
'corked' and the bottle can be easily resealed. In reality,
the only reason that screw tops are not more popular
is because of the ingrained snobbery associated with
this method of sealing a bottle.
No matter which type of cork you choose,
it is important that you are able to recognize whether
the wine has been properly sealed or not. A useful test
is to see whether the top of the cork is level with
the top of the bottle; if it isn't, then that particular
bottle of wine is probably best avoided.
If a traditional cork breaks when you
are removing it - don't panic! Use a corkscrew to attempt
to 'dig out' the remaining cork. If this fails, simply
push the remains of the cork down into the bottle. Contrary
to popular belief, this will not destroy the wine's
flavor. You may have to fish out a few bits of cork,
but the taste of the wine should remain unaffected.
However, you'd be wise to finish the whole bottle, under
these circumstances!
When choosing your wine, base your decision
on the wine itself and not the type of cork. Resist
the temptation to be a cork snob; a screw top bottle
may just give you a pleasant surprise
About the Author
Since Neil Best first pondered the question, Who
made the first wine anyway? he's been recording
his findings at Good
Glug. Find about your favorite wine regions, wine
recipes, and speciality wines along with how it's made
and how best to store it for maximum enjoyment
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