The great cork debate rumbles on

Posted by Andrew Chapman, 3:32pm 14/09/2007. Leave a comment

More and more of the wines we list, and see on the shelves and web pages of other wine merchants, have alternatives to cork as their closure.

Many column inches have been written about stelvin closures and plastic corks.

One thing that doesn't often get commented on... just how difficult cork is to open sometimes!

I recently bought several different South African wines from a major High Street retailer - some were old favourites, others I'd been itching to try for while as they'd been highly recommended by friends, customers or other Bloggers (yup, we listen to comments and feedback, and are constantly looking to improve our selection. And I don't just drink Surf4Wine wines at home, good as they are - I like to try a whole bunch of other stuff too).

Anyway, I can't wait to try wines when I have been on a buying spree, so the Sauvignon Blanc that I been most looking to try was dumped into the freezer for 30 mins (enough to get wine cold, but not freezing!), and as soon as I'd put the shopping away I was set for a nice glass of refreshing white wine.

Or so I thought. Would the cork come out? No it wouldn't! Not only was I gasping for a glass of wine, but I was getting very frustrated. In the end I gave up. A couple of days later the wine was returned to shop from whence it came and an new bottle was exchanged. A second attempt was made to open the new bottle. This time the cork was SO dry it just shattered into bits and dust. My training in a former life as a Sommelier proved useful in getting the last bits out and the wine was, after all the effort, very much worth it.

But what a palarva! Two faults really, cork jammed in so tight it couldn't be extracted - fault of producer I suspect. Plus cork drying out and splitting/shattering. Fault of the shipper/supermarket leaving wine upright and cork drying out I suspect. Such a shame. And the wines were bought almost a week apart and given the popularity of the wine and that the particular retailer was having a huge sale, I'd say they were from different cases/batches.

Don't get this problem with Stelvin! Which makes it not only a perfect seal for freshness and preserving fresh/fruity white wines aromas and tastes, but a joy to open and get the wine were it was intended. Smashed all over your taste buds!

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