Caring for Cork
Every wine we craft is an individual, with a unique personality and different needs. We care about our wines, how they will be appreciated and where they will be shared, and all these thoughts are part of our decision whether to close a wine under cork or screw cap.
Cork is a natural product that has been successfully used for over 300 years as a closure for many of the great wines of the world. Fittingly, all our premium red wines in our Rare & Fine collection have cork closures.
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Why do we use cork?
At Yalumba, we use both cork and screw cap across our range of wines for a multitude of reasons. Our decisions are made ‘for the love of wine’, with a goal to deliver our wines in a package that provides a memorable experience. Yalumba is a supporter of cork, a natural product that has been successfully used for over 300 years as a closure for many of the great wines of the world. We are a company that respects tradition and also embraces innovation.
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Is cork eco-friendly?
Cork comes from the Cork Oak Tree and is entirely natural, renewable, recyclable and biodegradable. These Cork Oak forests offset a significant amount of CO2 every year. Cork is extracted by removing the bark from the trees which leaves the trees and ecosystem unharmed, making it one of the most highly renewable and eco-friendly resources on the planet.
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How do I store a wine with a cork closure?
Bottles should be stored on their side to keep the cork wet. Storage temperature should also be as constant as possible, ideally between 17- 19 degrees Celsius. As with all wines, the bottles should be stored away from light.
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What do I do if the cork crumbles?
A good quality cork screw is important, particularly with older corks that may become crumbly. If a cork does crumble, remove it as slowly as you can which will limit the breaking. If pieces fall into the wine, careful decanting or even straining through a wine sieve or unbleached cheese cloth may be required.
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What is cork taint?
As cork is a natural product, it is subject to contamination if good agricultural, processing, transport and storage practices are not in place. TCA is a chemical compound responsible for the musty aromas and flavours in wines that are referred to as ‘cork taint’. While not harmful, it can be unpleasant to taste.
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How do I know if my wine is ‘corked’?
If a wine is corked, it will likely be dull, have less fruit flavours, and smell and taste musty, reminiscent of wet wood or cardboard. If you are concerned your Yalumba wine may be tainted by cork, please don’t hesitate to send us a message.
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Is there a way to avoid cork taint?
At Yalumba, we employ a number of measures that help to defend against cork taint. We use high grade natural corks that are each individually screened to provide the highest level of assurance, with our own rigorous quality control process before, during and after bottling. We don’t accept any corks that fail our tests. While there is no way to completely eliminate cork taint, these measures reduce the chance of our wines being contaminated.