Do you love the sound of the cork popping out of your wine bottle? It’s exciting for most of us and makes an important part of our celebrations. Somehow, unscrewing a metal cap doesn’t match that emotion. But that is no reason to choose corks over screws or vise-versa. Both have their own uses and advantages for wine bottles. Consider these pros and cons to better understand the two sides of a coin:
Cork
Corks are 100% made from the bark of cork trees, a.k.a. Quercus Suber. Every few years, producers collect the bark and shape it into circular pieces called corks without harming the tree. These are flexible and seal wine bottles tightly for several years. Since the product is natural, no two corks will ever be the same. Although oxygen can quickly enter the bottle via the cork, the wine’s originally produced carbon dioxide remains intact. While the cork cannot stay put by itself, metal guards are placed around it to keep the closure in place.
Pros
- Made of natural and renewable resource
- Creates a snug seal, and each piece is unique
- Allows for controlled oxygen ingress important for wine aging
- A traditional favorite for storing wine since the beginning
- Better overall wine appearance, taste, and fragrance
Cons
- Bad corks and TCA can ruin the wine
- Expensive and varying quality concerns
- Synthetic corks are environmentally unfriendly
- Pulling out the stubborn cork can be troublesome
Screw
Screw wine caps are metal capsules that seal the bottle through a specific lining. This lining contains a tin layer overlying a polymer which prevents leakage. For this reason, the closure is increasingly becoming popular as the wine reaches the consumer exactly as the winemaker intends to. Also, as there was an extraordinary demand for corks worldwide, screw caps saw a roaring success. Now year after year, screw caps are becoming a go-to choice to protect the wine from oxygen, keep it fresh, and guarantee convenience.
Pros
- Ease of use since corkscrews aren’t required
- Allows storing half-empty non-sparkling wine
- Convenient and travel-friendly packaging option
- High-quality white, rose, and red wines can age for longer
- A more financially viable option
Cons
- Cannot seal sparkling wine
- Only for wine meant to be consumed young
- Manufactured with nonrenewable resources
- Can look unappealing to some
Final Words
With so many pros and cons to consider, making a choice can be difficult. So, the decision is best left to personal preferences.
But one thing is for sure, no one alternative is better than the other, as both have their distinct advantages and disadvantages. So, do not judge the wine solely based on its closure – the contents, as well as what’s keeping the contents safe, are both crucial.
Want to know more about the different aspects of wine packaging? Check out our blog and discover what makes each bottle special.
