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.
The Use of Cork Alternatives
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.
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
