One of the benefits of the old type of cork, which to a microscopic degree is pours, was to allow the wine to breathe. Wine is a living entity; the yeast forming its character and alcohol requires minute amounts of oxygen. A draw back to cork was the possibility of it drying out and crumbling; the wine at best becoming corked and at worst spoilt by allowing the wine to become contaminated with airborne organisms.
This applied mainly to red wines that required longer maturation times and werent considered drinkable under 2 years old. Consequently, wines were laid down so as the contents of the bottle kept the cork moist, though the process wasnt 100% foolproof.
Wine production today is different; the rules have changed, due mainly to the work done several decades back in the Napper valley. The pioneering of new methods of viticulture and wine production was adopted by the New World countries, none more so than Australia. The French, once top of the tree, took a while to catch up, though their wins, and I hate to say this, I generally prefer.
As the wines have changed so have the corks. I cant remember the last time I saw the old style of cork and I mean cork; now theyre more inclined to be a composite material or screw top. Its the way the industry has gone. Unless youre a purist and want to own a cellar full of fine wines, theres no need to worry about the stoppers, just get down to your local supplier, I say, and drink the stuff.
Strewth cobber, an Aussi drinking wine? Why, you still making tea with water from the billabong! :biggrin1:
Its far better, being unable to unscrew the bottle top, to realise youve had enough to drink, than to stab yourself with a corkscrew! :wink:
This applied mainly to red wines that required longer maturation times and werent considered drinkable under 2 years old. Consequently, wines were laid down so as the contents of the bottle kept the cork moist, though the process wasnt 100% foolproof.
Wine production today is different; the rules have changed, due mainly to the work done several decades back in the Napper valley. The pioneering of new methods of viticulture and wine production was adopted by the New World countries, none more so than Australia. The French, once top of the tree, took a while to catch up, though their wins, and I hate to say this, I generally prefer.
As the wines have changed so have the corks. I cant remember the last time I saw the old style of cork and I mean cork; now theyre more inclined to be a composite material or screw top. Its the way the industry has gone. Unless youre a purist and want to own a cellar full of fine wines, theres no need to worry about the stoppers, just get down to your local supplier, I say, and drink the stuff.
Strewth cobber, an Aussi drinking wine? Why, you still making tea with water from the billabong! :biggrin1:
Its far better, being unable to unscrew the bottle top, to realise youve had enough to drink, than to stab yourself with a corkscrew! :wink:
