Bark Bites Back

Over the past decade, discussion about the problem of cork taint has been escalating, with some wineries and retailers claiming as much as 10% spoilage. The result was a move towards alternative closures. Alarm bells began to ring worldwide, especially in Portugal, a country with an ecological and economic dependence on cork production and which accounts for over 50% of the world's supply. This was the wake-up call for cork producers to examine their harvesting and manufacturing methods, as explained in this article.