I believe everyone has noticed a phenomenon: some Wine Bottle Caps are corks, while others are screw caps. Some people may ask: shouldn't all wine bottles have corks? Why are there screw caps? Don't worry. Let's take a look together below! Wine
Let's first look at corks. Currently, most of the wines we see on the market use corks. Corks are processed from the bark of a tree called Quercus suber. The cells of this bark are regularly arranged and hollow, and have good elasticity. When used as bottle caps, they can seal the bottle mouth well and do not completely isolate the air, which is beneficial for the wine in the bottle to slowly develop and mature, making the taste of the wine more mellow and smooth - this is particularly important for those wines with aging potential.
However, the disadvantages of using corks are also obvious. Firstly, due to the limited output of Quercus suber and its slow growth, the huge demand leads to the high price of corks. Secondly, due to the multiple processing procedures required from the bark to the bottle cap, various factors may lead to uneven quality of the corks. For example, the "breathing index" of natural corks varies, which is one of the weaknesses of corks. Moreover, there is a risk of cork contamination. If the cork is contaminated or damp, it will cause the wine to lose its flavor, giving the wine a musty smell like wet newspapers or cellar. In addition, the need for "tilting placement" and the need for a "special wine knife" to open all bring inconvenience to the preservation and consumption of wine.
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Let's take a look at screw caps. For a long time, it has been believed that the major advantage of corks is that they are conducive to the aging of wine in the bottle. With the advancement of technology and the emergence of new materials, screw caps have gradually emerged as substitutes for corks. Initially, due to their lower cost compared to corks, screw caps were mostly used for mass-produced low-end wines. However, nowadays, screw caps can also allow a small amount of oxygen to pass through. Whether it is Sauvignon Blanc that needs to maintain a fresh taste or Cabernet Sauvignon that needs to age, screw caps can basically meet their needs. For example, in many New World wine regions, especially in Australia, New Zealand, Chile, etc., when brewing mid-to-high-end white wines, screw caps are selected for bottle sealing. Some more advanced wineries and higher-end red wines have also begun to use screw caps.
Screw caps not only avoid cork contamination but are also very easy to open, and unfinished wine can be easily capped and preserved for a few days. But precisely because of this, it affects consumers' perception of screw caps, who consider screw caps as a symbol of cheap and low-quality, lacking the sense of ritual and not being high-end and elegant when opening wine.
So, whether it is a screw cap or a cork, as a wine bottle cap, it is generally for sealing to ensure that the wine does not leak out; it can allow a small amount of oxygen to pass through to ensure the aging ability of the wine; it is easy to open for convenient consumption. So everyone doesn't need to be obsessed with what the wine bottle cap is. Delicious and suitable for oneself is the most important.
