That natural cork in your wine bottle? It does more than just preserve the quality and character of your wine. It preserves old-growth cork oak forests and a centuries-long way of life through sustainable harvesting of the bark. And it helps preserve the planet by naturally absorbing carbon, the greenhouse gas responsible for climate change.
Artificial plastic stoppers or screw caps on the other hand consume fossil fuels, and use at least five times more energy per ton to produce, before millions of them end up in our landfills and oceans. It may seem like a little thing, but demanding natural cork is something we can all do.
The real cork stopper is good for wine because it has unique innate qualities, which interact beneficially with wine. It contributes to developing its character, gives it authenticity and brings it value. Cork, which is just as natural and noble as wine, benefits from the production of wine and reciprocates with premium performance stoppers. Both industries have grown together over the centuries.
“In comparison to the aluminium and plastic closures, the cork stopper is the best alternative in terms of non-renewable energy consumption, emission of greenhouse effect gases, contribution to atmospheric acidification, contribution to the formation of photochemical oxidants, contribution to the eutrophication of surface water and total production of solid waste.” 1
“The capture of carbon by the cork oaks during the photosynthesis process results in plant growth and transforms atmospheric CO2 into O2 and, in the case of organic matter, into cellulose. For this reason, the forest is considered to be an important carbon sink.” 2
“Ever since the French monk Dom Perignon experimented with a new stopper for his sparkling wine in the early 1600s, cork stoppers have underpinned the global wine industry.” 1
“In the Wine Business Monthly 2009 Closure Report, wineries rated closures by perceived consumer acceptance. Natural cork received the highest marks. A more direct study of consumer perception was conducted by the Oregon State University Food Innovation Center1. It found that consumers perceived wine finished with cork to have higher quality and price than the same wine finished in alternative closures.”
“In a study conducted by Tragon2, consumers were asked to rate the appropriateness of different closures for a variety of occasions … when consumers were asked the general question “how likely would you be to purchase wines with this closure”? Natural cork was selected by a 4:1 margin over alternatives.” 2
Cork oak forests, referred to as montados, are the lungs of the environment, the economy and the society of Mediterranean countries. They have such an important role for nature and people that they are protected by law. In Portugal, where there is the largest cork oak forest area in the world, the cork oak is the national tree and has been protected by law since the 13th century. A growing awareness of the value of the ecosystem of the cork oak forest has led to important initiatives in reforestation and the systematisation of good practices. It is a way of ensuring the future, without forgetting the old saying: “Whoever cares for their grandchildren, plants a cork oak”.
Associated with Higher Quality Wine
“The data shown for the U.S., Australia and German markets has consistent, and perhaps even unexpected, positive news for wineries that feature natural cork stoppers,” commented Peter Weber, Executive Director of the Cork Quality Council. “Since consumers overwhelmingly associate cork with high quality wines, having a cork stopper instead of a screw cap can make a critical difference when it comes to selling to the all-crucial, premium segment of the market that successful wineries around the world are targeting. It certainly makes sense for these wineries to promote their use of cork.”
Wines Closed With Cork Saw Increase in Sales Volume and Value
Since the start of 2010, the volume market share for wines closed with cork rose 47 Alternative closures also saw an increase, but of 8 percent in the same time period. While the numbers do not necessarily mean that consumers are making their purchase based solely on closure type, the data does show an improvement in sales of wine closed with cork.
When breaking out case sales by closure type and top brands, those finished with a natural cork have seen significant improvement in volume moved.
For the most recent Nielsen period, the top 10 brands finished in natural cork performed better in both volume movement and sales compared with the top brands closed with synthetic. Eight of the top brands closed with cork saw an increase in case sales, averaging a 1 percent increase in volume and a 9.4 percent increase in value. For synthetically sealed brands, five of the top 10 brands saw a decrease in volume, however the average across all 10 remained an increase of 1.2 percent.
For the four-week period ending December 31, 2016 Cork finished wines topped all price segments, with particularly strong performance in all price segments over $10. Screwcaps now out-perform synthetics in the price points over $15, but remain a small fraction of wines priced over $20.00
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Raised in Paris, Dr. Isabelle Sodini holds a Phd. in Food Engineering. She was an Assistant Professor at the Institut National Agronomique de Paris-Grignon, where she taught food microbiology and HACCP methodology. Dr. Sodini left Paris in 2004 for a one-year research post at Cal Poly, and then joined Portocork to develop and manage our in-house laboratory and Quality Assurance department.
Dustin Mowe has over 24 years of experience in the cork industry. He began his career in sales with Sabate Cork Company, traveling across the U.S. to every major wine-producing region. In 2001, he joined Portocork to lead its sales and marketing efforts and in 2006, he was promoted to President.
Originally from Burney, California, Mowe studied business before relocating to Napa Valley, to live and work in the wine industry. He also co-owns Mowe Napa Valley, a luxury boutique wine brand with his wife, Renee. Outside of work, he enjoys fitness, skiing, and spending time with his family.