Rogue Sommelier

Has the Cork Tree been Screw (ed Topped)?

If you frequent the wine section of your local liquor store, you may have noticed a trend. The traditional wood cork has become an endangered species. It has long been accepted that cork is really the worst way to seal a wine, but until recent years what other choices did we have. Cork is porous and prone to bacterias, mold, or drying out.

When buying a wine with a wood cork check it out first. If the cork is bulging over the top of the bottle choose another bottle. When you get it home and the foil off, if the cork is moldy return it. Any respectable wine store should not hassle you over the return. A wine that is spoiled from cork contamination is referred to as "corked" and will often taste of wet cardboard... It's a long story how I know what cardboard tastes like.

The trend in wine sealing today is becoming strictly alternative. Plastic and Rubber corks are all the rage. They cut down on contamination and can be color coordinated to the label of the bottle. Screw Caps are slowly screwing their way into the market place, and are here to stay. Premium 3 liter boxes are doing their part in dismissing the myth that all box wines are bad, and my current favorite the one liter carton with plastic screw top is making an appearance from wineries such as Three Thieves and Rabbit.

All of these departures are enough to drive traditionalists to drink. I was disconcerted by these changes at first, but it's really best for the wine. Cork contaminated wines are swiftly becoming a thing of the past. So don't be afraid of cork alternatives you'll miss out on some terrific wines.