Wine is not only a means of celebration. Ultimately, it has become an icon of our culture and heritage. Even the popping of the wine cork has become a huge part of the wine ritual. However, the development of screwtops as an alternative to natural corks has raised skeptical eyebrows among many traditional wine lovers.
Corks, which have been the primary closure of wine bottles since the 17th century, are not simply a traditional part of wine appreciation. They also help greatly in the aging process and the maintenance of the wine’s quality and excellent taste. These corks are made from the bark of oak trees that are found in Portugal, Spain and North Africa.
Screwtops, on the other hand, emerged in the 21st century and since then have become a popular alternative to wine corks. Some wine enthusiasts see screwtops as the modern wine closure choice, although some traditionalists deem that using these is a blasphemy to the essence of wine culture. The debate between corks and screwtops is of major importance since wine closures are essential in wine preservation. The right choice between the two can help protect wine from damaging oxidation.
The most obvious advantage of the cork is the ceremonial popping or opening of the wine, which is not an option if you go for a screwtop. Many people associate the popping sound to the sound of triumph, celebration, or special event. For some people, drinking wine without the popping sound at the beginning loses the magic of the whole thing.
Moreover, corks are a renewable and biodegradable resource. They come from oak trees in which the bark is stripped to make the cork. Take note, this is done without killing the tree so it does not negatively affect the environment.
Corks while they have served their ultimate purpose of preserving wine are not completely infallible. In fact, corks are known for their tendency to crumble, break, leak or produce a wine that is palatably undesirable if not preserved properly.
Another downside to using the cork is the TCA or 2,4,6 trichloroanisole, fungus or molds created within the cork. This is actually one of the main reasons why screwtops have been invented. A cork infected with TCA can affect the aroma and taste of the wine.
On the side of the screwtops, the most prominent advantage is the convenience and ease of use. With a screwtop, there is no more need to use a corkscrew to remove the wine closure. Aside from that, screwtops are resealable and there is no need to worry about cork taints, breaking of cork or the TCA.
Screwtops are ideal to use for both red and white wines. They also work to preserve the fruitiness, quality, and consistency of the wine. And unlike with the cork wine bottles that you have to store horizontally, wine bottles with screwtops can be stored upright.
The biggest disadvantage of screwtops is that they are not environmentally friendly. Not only would use of screwtops disturb the cork industry, these plastic corks can pose additional threat to the environment.
Corks and screwtops have their own pros and cons. At the end of the day, it is you the consumer who will have to decide which is truly the better choice.
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