The never-ending dilemma... cork, synthetic stopper or screw cap?

After an intense week of work in Dominican Republic, we are back! And today we are going to talk about a very recurrent topic in all of our wine dinners and events. The traditional cork, the synthetic stopper or the screw cap: which one is right? These are the three different ways to cover a wine, and many of you constantly wonder which one is best. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

Cork is the most common way to cover a wine, and also the one that consumers are most accustomed to. Nowadays, for economic or ecological reasons, many winemakers have opted for other ways to seal their bottles. The difference in production methods, flavors, aging process are some of the criteria that determine what path to follow when it comes to sealing the bottle. The cork, believe or not, has disadvantages. It comes from the bark of the cork oak tree, originally from Europe and North Africa. It is a resistant material but at the same time it is very flexible. Its manufacture is a very long expensive process. So that is that! In addition, the activists of a green world and those who fight for greater sustainability declare themselves against it, due to the damage to the tree. However, those who defend it explain that the cork oak regenerates its bark quickly. Spain and Portugal are the most important producing countries.

Historically, the natural properties of cork are what have made it preferred for sealing bottles. Furthermore, an essential virtue is that it enables a fundamental micro-oxygenation so that the wine continues to evolve in the bottle. It does not modify the smell or taste of the wine. It is the favorite ally in terms of the storage of medium and high-end wines. But careful: the cork can be easily degraded by fungi. This situation is called 'cork disease', and if it happens, it can transmit aromas and flavors that negatively affect and damage the wine. If ageing is not a priority, many wineries do not cover the bottles with the classic cork as the wine is supposed to be consumed quickly.

On the other hand we have a modern alternative: there are stoppers that are manufactured based on synthetic material or plastic, which can have a percentage of cork or be an agglomerate. They are very suitable for young and less complex wines. Their value is much more competitive and the companies that distribute them guarantee that the wine flavors will not be altered. Meanwhile the screw cap, a simple aluminum seal, is ideal for young wines, especially whites, table wines and all of those that are uncovered and consumed immediately.

Each of these ways of corking a wine has a purpose but reality is that... the quality of any wine or the prestige of a winery have nothing to do with the type of cork that is used. The lid of a wine should never be the reason to pick it over another, but rather its tasting notes, the occasion you are picking it for, the food that you will pair it with and, more importantly, the friends and family you will share it with.

Hasta pronto amigos!