How are Wine Corks Made?

May 30, 2019

Ever wonder how a wine cork is made? Winemaker Paul Steinauer recently traveled to Portugal for a behind-the-scenes look into the cork-making process and the operations of Flora Springs’ cork supplier. Here’s a peek into how corks are made.

First, a ​cork harvester carefully strips the cork bark from the tree.Cork harvest in Portugal

​Then the cork bark dries out on pallets for several months.How are wine corks made

After drying, the cork goes into stainless steel tanks where it is submerged in water to be rinsed, cleaned and re-hydrated.Where are wine corks from

​Then, the tops and bottoms of the outer bark is removed by a stripping machine.Makikng wine corks

And the bark is cut to the proper width.How do you make a wine cork

After each cork is individually punched out of the bark, it is run through a machine that measures its density, and therefore its ability to contain liquid. If it does not meet a specific density, it is discarded.Wine corks

Our supplier selects cork lots from only the top-quality manufacturers, and then hauls the lots to their facility to undergo additional quality control. They test for appearance and perform a sensory analysis. The corks are warmed to enhance any odor compounds that may be present. They are looking for Trichloroanisole (TCA), which is better known as cork taint and can damage the wine—as well as any other negative odor compounds. If any negative compounds are detected, the entire lot is returned to the manufacturer.Cork making

Random samples from various lots are then placed in these small bottles to undergo a soak test. This test will detect any TCA that may not have been found during smell testing.
where are wine corks from

Once the lots have passed all quality control requirements, samples from each lot are archived at the supplier’s headquarters. If we ever discover a problem with a number of corks, the supplier can reference the problem corks with samples from the same lot to determine what issues may be present.corked wine

A great deal of work goes into the cork-making process, every cork is handled approximately ten times by the time it is approved for use. The “simple” wine cork is an expensive part of the overall wine packaging costs, but necessary to ensure the quality we expect to protect our wines.

Flora Springs Wine

Five Fun Facts:

  1. Cork trees are oak trees.
  2. Cork bark is harvested from 35 – 200 year old trees.
  3. For most 750mL closures, the bark is harvested every seven years.
  4. Most premium corks are harvested in Portugal; Spain is the only other significant producer.
  5. All of the corks Flora Springs uses are harvested in Portugal.

Create Your Own Flora’s Five Cabs & Five Cuts Feast

May 8, 2019

When John Komes bottled Flora Springs’ first Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon – the Rutherford Hillside Reserve in 1989 – it became a benchmark for Napa Valley Cabernet, bringing awareness to the concept of site-specific wines. Since then Flora Springs has enhanced its Single Vineyard Program, and today we offer five elegant and powerful wines that reflect the small vineyard sites and even individual blocks in which they are grown – wines so outstanding they deserve to be bottled on their own.

Flora's Five Cabs & Five Cuts
Download our Flora’s Five Cabs & Five Cuts Pairing Guide

 

The idea for “Flora’s Five Cuts and Five Cabs” dinner—which has been one of our most popular events since its inception four years ago—is a nod to John’s early days of selling these Single Vineyard Cabernets. Back then he developed a successful winemaker dinner pairing each Cabernet with a specific cut of premium beef. He found that the words used to describe the texture and tenderness of a steak enhanced the understanding and enjoyment of Cabernet. In true John fashion, he was well ahead of his time, and his innovative concept is still relevant today.

John Komes Greets Guests to Flora’s Five Cabs & Five Cuts Wine Dinner, May 2019
Dinner Guests Enjoying a Perfect Summer Evening at Flora Springs Family Estate
Filet Mignon Paired with Rutherford Hillside Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

 

We’ve made it easy for you to find your perfect pairing. Download our Flora’s Five Cabs & Five Cuts Pairing Guide, then select your beef and order your Single Vineyard Cabernet to pair it with.

Explore the magic of Cabernet and how it enhances the enjoyment of food. Start planning your epic feast now, shop our Single Vineyard special offers.

The 2014 Etched Single Vineyard Cabernet Magnums

Are you looking for a specific vintage of our Single Vineyard Cabernets? Give us a call at (800) 913-1118.

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