Wine is one of the most popular alcoholic drinks prepared from fermented grapes. It is also relatively popular, and people have been drinking wine since ancient times. Drinking a moderate amount of wine is proven to be healthy as it gives antioxidants, shields against heart ailment, enhances longevity, etc.
Wine bottles are available in different colors, and the glass often comes in clear, brown, or green shades. Similarly, different shaped liquor bottles are used to supply wine worldwide. A reliable whiskey bottle manufacturer even offers wine bottle customization options. In order to preserve wine, its flavor, color, and aroma, different types of wine corks and closures are used.
What Is A Wine Bottle Cork And Closure
The wine cork is a representation of preservation, both for the wine inside the bottle and also for the natural ecosystem of the forest. The cork-extracting and making process is a sustainable cycle that has not altered much over the years. It is because it is a sustainable cycle that is beneficial for the local economy, environment, and cork-using businesses, particularly the wine industry.
The cork has been used as a bottle stopper for more than 400 years. It might be the best material for use as a bottle stopper since it contains a natural waxy component known as suberin. Additionally, it has characteristics that are not found in any other naturally occurring material. It is soft, buoyant, light in weight, impermeable to gas and liquid, and resistant to decay, fire, and termites. Due to these aspects, it makes an incredible choice for wine bottles.
A stopper, which is utilized to seal a bottle and prevent the wine from coming into contact with oxygen, is referred to as a closure. The most conventional and well-known type of closure in the wine industry is the cork, but there are different types, such as plastic corks, natural corks, technical corks, etc.
Additionally, there are various types of caps that are used as wine closures, including screw caps, crown caps, etc. The screw cap offers consistency from bottle to bottle that a biological product might not always deliver. In addition, they can be tailored to a brand and particular to desired oxygenation levels.
Wine bottles with synthetic seals might enable regulated oxygen transmission rates. A few natural cork closures might not require a corkscrew because they are easy to open and allow simple recork. The option for closure is determined by factors such as the potential for cork taint, wine shelf life, and oxygen permeability.
Why Wine Bottles Have Corks And Closures
Have you ever wondered why wine bottles have corks? Whether you are utilizing a wine cellar or a wine fridge, a cork assists in keeping your wine fresh while you store it. The cork’s porous composition makes it possible for it to tightly fit and seal the wine bottle’s neck. Additionally, it hides any weak spots where gas could seep into or out of the wine bottle and completely alter the wine’s flavor.
The oxidation procedure is greatly slowed down, and the wine is preserved in the bottle by corks, which also aid in the wine’s aging and progressive development. This happens as a result of corks, or more particularly, incredible corks, which only slightly permit oxygen to enter the wine. This is important since the wine eventually oxidizes when exposed to air.
Wine should only be exposed to a tiny amount of air because this is how they develop its secondary, mature characteristics and get rid of bad smells. The best corks permit approximately 3.5 ounces of oxygen to enter the bottle per year.
This is a sufficient amount of air to remove the sulfites that were added during the bottling process to preserve the wine’s freshness and prevent oxidation. This small amount of air is perfect for helping age-worthy wines to reveal their subtle flavors as the tannins smoothen.
Longer corks are typically used for costlier wines, and shorter ones for less costly ones. The primary factor in minimizing leaks is the force that the cork applies to the bottle. A shorter cork can apply sufficient pressure to the bottleneck, while a longer cork provides a little bit stronger defense against leaks brought on by flaws in the cork or bottleneck. If the cork is longer, there are limited chances for air to go through the wine inside the bottle.
Wine enthusiasts also enjoy taking the cork out of the bottle and admiring it. To sum up, there are several benefits to using cork rather than a screw cap to seal wine bottles. Because the bark is used to manufacture cork, it is a renewable resource. Additionally, it can take on the form of a wine bottle, making it a very alluring method of sealing wine.
Different Types Of Wine Bottle Closures In The Market
It is a wise idea to get wine bottles from a high-end champagne bottle supplier so that the bottles will be of high quality, sturdy, and will not break easily. Sealing the wine bottle with the ideal closure can improve the wine’s quality, including the aroma, taste, and color. Have a look at the different types of wine bottle closures available in the present market.
Natural Corks
A reusable, recyclable, and biodegradable wine closure choice is natural cork. The corkwood planks that are harvested from cork oaks are used to make the natural cork closures. The entire action is referred to as punching, and there are various categories, and the corks are so intact.
They are rated from 6 to superior for the best in terms of appearance. These corks are entirely natural and come in two varieties: single-piece corks that are chopped from a single sheet of cork bark or multi-piece corks that include at least two pieces of cork that have been joined or adhered together.
One-piece natural corks are the best for long-term wine aging. They grow and hold their strength for extended periods of time in a natural way. A one-piece natural cork will almost quickly enlarge to 85% of its initial size after peeling off from a bottle of wine and then return to its original size after 24 hours.
Wines that do not require lengthy aging are a good fit for multi-piece corks. These corks are frequently created using scraps of cork bark that were originally not particularly thick.
Synthetic Wine Corks
The wine business has only recently started using synthetic wine corks extensively. They are most frequently constructed of plastic with an oil base. However, some producers of synthetic cork are also experimenting with using plant-based polymers derived from corn and sugarcane.
For wine manufacturers aiming for a scientific level of oxygen transport, synthetic corks can be useful. These materials can be created in a variety of densities and from a variety of materials, which enables them to have predetermined air transfer rates.
Champagne or Sparkling Wine Corks
Champagne corks, which are typically made from decent-quality compressed cork, should bear a great deal of pressure from all those bubbles. The standard champagne bottle (Top 4 Champagne Bottle Decoration Ideas ) includes more than millions of bubbles and resists additional air pressure compared to a standard vehicle tire.
Screw Caps
In the 1950s, a number of wineries in Australia started experimenting with using screw caps to seal their bottles instead of the traditional corks. It is an airtight screw-on lid that was tested for many years before evolving as a standard in the industry. As of now, it is used by several wine manufacturers. For instance, 90% of wine closures in New Zealand are screw caps.
For wines such as Sauvignon Blanc, screw closures provide minimal to no air exposure. These are also known as aluminum caps and are available in both plain and printed varieties. There are many different types of aluminum closures accessible in the market, including non-refillable, long-skirted closures with the proper liners.
Crown Cap Closure
Because the crown cap can contain pressure, it is the preferred cap for the majority of beer bottles (Top 9 Beer Bottle Decoration Ideas). Conventional sparkling producers use this closure to seal bottles before the bubbles are disgorging. Later, a foil, a cable cage, and a cork are used to reseal these bottles.
When it comes to natural sparkling wine, numerous producers opt to offer their sparkling wines with their crowns still on. Even a few still wines are starting to display the crown cap seal, especially those that fall into the natural camp.
Stelvin Closures
The Stelvin closures are specialized closures, made particularly for wine bottles. These closures feature an aluminum closure, a distinct bottleneck design along with several liners and closure situations. The screw cap closure gives a slim finish for the wine bottle with the insertion of a plastic piece in the aluminum shell.
The Stelvin closures were first made and manufactured in Burgundy, France. The Stelvin closures are one of the best types of wine screw caps. They maintain a lengthy outside skirt to look like the conventional wine capsule. These closures utilize plastic Polyvinylidene chloride like a neutral liner in interior wadding.
Zork Closure
The Zork is a pull-off capsule and a mixed closure. This replacement cap fits the majority of 750 ml wine bottles. After it is opened, it transforms into a sampling cork that can be used again. To maintain a long shelf life, a foil is soldered between the cap and plunger. The plunger generates a popping sound like a cork, and the foil assists it seals like a screw cap.
Glass Wine Cork
The sophisticated, pricey glass stopper, is made using glass. In 2003, it was introduced to the European market. The glass is encircled with plastic substance to develop a tight seal. It is one of the latest wine closure options and is reusable and eco-friendly due to its construction. This closure method is less practical than various closure types because of its expensive price and inefficiency for aging wines.
The glass wine corks are created using decent quality glass that is tempered at 500 degrees Celsius. Later, it is pressed and boiled, which makes it more durable than the glass wine bottle. It has an aluminum capsule at the outside which is taken out first and then the glass stopper is moved up to open the wine bottle.
Mekano Closure
Mekano is a synthetic closure made to perform to the highest standard. These wine closures are suitable for any food-grade bottle and fulfill the high standards established by any industry. In addition to that, they have a neutral taste and aroma.
The thermoplastic resins used to create the Mekano synthetic closures are technical polymers with exceptional performance. The seal is composed of a glycol rubber, which offers a strong gas obstacle and is safe for use around food and beverages. Composite fiberglass substances used in the bar and veil function comparably to durable aluminum.
Wine Capsules
By using tamper-evident sealing, capsules provide the wine bottles with a more appealing visual look and increase bottle protection. PVC heat shrink capsules are inexpensive and simple to use. Besides, they offer the most straightforward option for a variety of wine bottles.
Aluminum and polyethylene are combined in polylaminate capsules to create a powerful aesthetic impact and offer the opportunity for decoration at a competitive price. Tin or aluminum capsules are the best options for giving your wine bottles a high-end finish and enhancing your brand’s marketability by providing a luxurious design.
Wax Wine Closures
The use of wax for sealing wine bottles is a matter of aesthetics or personal taste. It gives your bottles an ultra-premium appearance and is a wonderful method to include fine detail. Most of the time, the premium wax is simple to apply to every bottle. Also, it is easy for the customer to peel off. For instance, about 100 bottles will typically be covered by one kilogram of wax.
Agglomerated Corks
Agglomerated closures, which are typically used for still wines intended for relatively early consumption, are made from premium cork granulates. The punching procedure’ offcuts, which are afterward crushed, are used to make the granulates. From the smallest (micro grain) to the largest, they can range in size (large grain). After that, they are put together with food-grade glue.
An agglomerated stopper is essentially a board made of cork particles that have been securely held together by glue or another plant-based binder and pressure. Because they tend to degrade more promptly, a few agglomerated corks must only be utilized with wines meant to be consumed right away.
Colmated Corks
Colmated cork closures are constructed from natural cork closures whose lenticels have been bonded with glue and cork powder produced during the manufacturing process to maximize performance. Simply put, they are produced from medium-grade natural cork, and fine cork powder is used to fill in the cracks. As a result, the cork has a softer feel and emerges from the bottle more smoothly. Under a coated cork, wines can mature for a few years.
Technical Corks
Technical corks have an agglomerated corks body and a noticeable disc or discs on single or dual ends, which is one of its distinguishing features. The end product is a closure that is robust while also being less permeable compared to natural corks. Accordingly, technical cork closures can conserve their shape under pressure from the wine inside the bottle while also having superior resistance to the attack of wine elements like air and alcohol.
Helix Corks
A relatively recent and distinctive cork-glass packaging design is Helix cork. The glass of the bottleneck must have a spiral pattern in order to use this cork. After it has been used, the cork style is rather simple to open and reseal.
Natural Corks Vs. Synthetic Corks: Which Is Better
The majority of people and premium wine manufacturers chose cork as their favorite wine bottle closure. Wondering what is cork made of? It is created from cork trees’ (Quercus suber) bark, which is primarily farmed in Portugal. According to wine specialists, the flawless cork is the greatest way to seal a bottle of wine since it enables the wine to breathe gradually and age steadily.
Undoubtedly, it is not surprising to know that corks are the preferred choice as the best bottle closure. However, ever since synthetic corks came into existence, there has been a never-ending debate about which is better: natural corks and synthetic corks. Here is a brief comparison of synthetic cork vs natural cork for preserving wholesale glass wine bottles.
Natural Cork
The bark of Quercus suber, often known as the cork oak tree, is used to make natural cork. These evergreens are numerous and tightly protected and are highly found in Portugal and Spain. Cork is the most environmentally friendly material to seal a bottle because it has a lifespan of over 200 years and can supply thousands of bottles.
Pros
- Compared to synthetic corks, plant-based corks employ renewable resources and retain a less carbon footprint.
- Since they are frequently softer than plastic corks, plant-based natural corks are simpler to open.
- Cork increases its size inside a bottleneck due to its elasticity to keep wine inside and oxygen outside.
- Small amounts of air can interact with wine through the natural cork’s small pores, enhancing the wine’s flavor and aroma over time.
Cons
- When chlorine comes into touch with a particular fungus when the cork is being processed, the chemical compound TCA can alter the aroma of the wine.
- A few cork types have the tendency to leave a woody taste to the wine.
- Based on the wine manufacturing brand and the cork quality, some corks are likely to be about three to four times more costly than screw caps.
Synthetic Cork
Plastic derived from petroleum or materials derived from plants can both be used to make synthetic corks. Polyethylene, a malleable substance that can be melted down to create foam that mimics the porousness of natural cork, is typically used to make plastic corks. Similar techniques are used to create plant-based stoppers, but bio-polyethylene, a biobased plastic derived from the result of processing renewable raw materials like sugarcane, is used instead.
Pros
- Synthetic corks are not made of wood, so they do not deteriorate or dry out. Additionally, since synthetic cork would not disintegrate, your wine would not include any cork fragments that need to be removed.
- Synthetic corks are often thrice less costly than natural corks. In addition, they frequently cost less than screw caps.
- TCA taint is not a problem with synthetic corks. They create a tight, impermeable seal and predictable oxygen transmission rates.
Cons
- Oil-based polymers used to make synthetic corks are not renewable or biodegradable.
- The most difficult wine closures to open are synthetic corks, some of which are impossible to replace once removed.
- Wines with oil-based plastic corks have a chemical odor, according to some wine experts, especially if the wine has been sitting in the bottle for a while.
Corks Vs. Screw Tops: Which Is Better
Natural cork, which comes from the cork oak tree, is a renewable resource that is completely recyclable and biodegradable. In addition to that, it is sustainable and environmentally friendly. Screw cap closures give consistency, predictability, and dependability. Wine closures are accessible in a variety of lengths and diameters.
Wine closures vary based on the wine’s kind and purpose. Screw tops and corks each have unique qualities. Check out the brief comparison between corks and screw tops to know which is a better type of wine closure for custom glass liquor bottles.
Corks
Natural corks permit oxygen to gradually enter the bottle over time. This helps wines age slowly, which is essential for wines that will age well. Corks are biodegradable and friendly to the environment. However, TCA, often known as cork taint, can affect corks. Additionally, various corks can impart a varied flavor to the same wine due to their varying rates of permeability.
Screw Caps
Wine bottles with screw caps are simpler to store for later drinking. Screw closures can lessen “wine flaws” or wine deterioration. Cork taint does not affect bottles with screwtops. Screw-top wine bottles could taste “flint struck” or metallic. Besides that, screw caps cannot decompose biologically.
Conclusion
At present, the wine cork and closure market is pretty extensive, with plenty of sealing options. Also, some wine manufacturers are even trying to come up with custom sealing closure options that can enhance and make their brand stand out. They even choose customized wine bottle shapes (Knowleage: What Are Different Types Of Wine Bottle Shapes?) and sizes for more brand exposure.
If you are looking to acquire wine bottles for your business needs, it is best to contact Roetell. It is possible to get samples on bulk order bottles and purchase customized wine bottles for your brand at a relatively less price.