Have you ever opened a bottle of wine, poured yourself a glass, and found cork floating in the wine and an unusual smell? This can be a frustrating experience, but it doesn't necessarily mean your wine is spoiled. In this article, we'll explore why cork sometimes ends up in wine, what causes it, and what you can do to prevent it in the future.
What is Cork?
Cork is a natural material harvested from the bark of the cork oak tree. The bark is harvested every nine years, and the tree is not cut down, making cork an environmentally friendly and sustainable product. Cork is used for a variety of products, including flooring, bulletin boards, and wine bottle stoppers. Why is cork found in some wines?
Cork in wine is usually caused by a faulty cork stopper. If a wine bottle is sealed with a cork, the cork can break or disintegrate over time. In this case, small pieces of cork can get into the wine, which is both unsightly and can affect the taste of the wine.
In some cases, cork in the wine can also be caused by how the wine is stored. If a wine bottle is stored upright for a long period, the cork can dry out, shrink, and crumble, leading to cork particles entering the wine.
How does cork in wine affect its smell and taste?
If you've ever tasted wine with cork, you know it can have a musty or moldy taste that overpowers the wine's natural flavor. This is caused by a compound called TCA (2,4,6-Trichloroanisole), produced by bacteria that can grow on cork. TCA can impair the aroma and taste of wine, and even small amounts can be detected by the human palate. If the wine has a musty or moldy taste, it's likely been affected by TCA, and the wine should be discarded.
What can you do to prevent cork in your wine?
In short: Not much. Preventing cork in your wine begins with selecting wines that have been properly sealed. Most wines are sealed with cork, but there are other options, including synthetic corks and screw caps, which are less likely to result in corked wine.
If you opt for wines with cork stoppers, it's important to store them correctly. Wine bottles should be stored on their side to keep the cork moist and prevent it from drying out. This reduces the risk of the cork breaking or crumbling and prevents cork particles from entering the wine.
It's also important to consider the age of the wine you're buying. The longer it has been since a wine was bottled, the more likely the cork is to break or dry out. If you're buying an older vintage, it's worth inspecting the cork for signs of damage before opening the bottle.
What should you do if your wine contains cork?
If you've opened a bottle of wine and find cork floating in it, the first thing to do is examine the cork to determine if it's intact. If the cork is broken or crumbled, the wine has likely been corked, and you should discard it. If the cork is intact, you can try filtering the wine through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth to remove any cork particles. This can be a time-consuming process but is an option if you're determined to salvage the wine. After your first experience with a corked wine, you'll also recognize the typical cork smell. Let other wine experts alert you to the smell of cork so you can remember it: damp, moldy cellar smell. If your wine is from Vioneers and you suspect it's corked, please let us know. We will send you a replacement bottle. Simply contact us here.
