Natural cork is impermeable, elastic, odorless and does not affect the taste of the liquid in the bottle. For these reasons, it is considered an excellent seal.  It is also resistant to deterioration through aging or chemical activity, and is bio-degradable or recyclable after use.  Cork production is an agricultural activity with a long tradition, but at the same time it has developed to become a modern, industrial process.

• Cork’s cell construction, compressibility and elasticity, makes it a superior closure capable of assuring a perfect seal for any type of wine.

• Cork is the only natural material capable of adapting correctly to the internal irregularities of the bottleneck.

• Cork guarantees perfect closures during storage, even when expansion or contraction of the glass bottle occurs due to temperature variation.

                 Which Cork to use?

Natural Cork:  Up to 25 Years, Plus of sealing capability 

You can expect perfect sealing capabilities throughout dozens of years.  This period may be further prolonged, as long as the cork closure is of high quality and is kept in ideal wine storage conditions.

Flor Grade = 20 to 25 or more years in the bottle

Extra Grade = 15 to 20 years in the bottle

Super Grade = 7 to 15 years in the bottle

First Grade = 5 and maybe up to 7 years in the bottle

Standard/Second Grade = 2 to 4 years in the bottle

no_TCA3 = 7 to 10 years in the bottle

no_TCA2 = 4 to 7 years in the bottle

no-TCA1 = 1 to 4 years in the bottle

no-M = 1 to 2 years in the bottle

Technical (1 + 1) or NDT = 1 to 4 years in the bottle depending on grade/quality

Technical Cork:  2 to 3 Years of sealing capability 

Technical corks were created for bottled wines which are consumed within a period of two to three years.  (This stopper has an agglomerated cork body with natural cork disks glued to both ends.) 

 Reference: APCOR – Portuguese Cork Association, Technical Cork Kit, Portugal 2004

Provided by: Reliable Cork Solutions, LLC, CT, reliablecorksolutions.com, Tel.(203) 681-7743          

Cork is an organic material which comes from the bark of the cork oak tree, known scientifically as �Quercus Suber�. Cork oaks grow naturally in the Iberian Peninsula, and you can still find spontaneous cork oak growth in large areas of Portugal and Spain.  Farming cork sustains local economies and traditional practices.