Wine making is a popular hobby and when making your own home made wine there are a few things to take into consideration. Wine bottles will be required to store and serve the wine once it has been made and these come in a number of different styles. There are different closure methods for these and while screw bottle tops and plastic seals are common these days, wine bottle corks are still one of the most popular ways of sealing a bottle of wine.
Types of corks one can use
Wine bottle stoppers come in a variety of styles. This can include natural corks which are made from a single piece of cork. Agglomerated corks are made from cork pieces glued together while synthetic corks are made of particles of synthetic resins which are typically injection or extrusion molded. They come in a few different shapes which can include straight with a chamfer and also tapered. Tasting corks are also available and these typically have a plastic top attached to the cork making it easier to remove and replace it.
Benefits of using wine corks
Using wine bottle corks to seal your wine bottles has a few advantages. One of the main benefits cited is that it lets the wine breathe. The little bit of oxygen that permeates the cork can help a wine age better and have a better taste when it is opened. If you intend to store wine for a period of time before drinking it, a cork can therefore be an excellent way of sealing the bottle. The elasticity of the cork is also a benefit. It is easily compressed to insert it in a bottle and it will then expand in the neck of the bottle to form a tight seal.
Advice for using and preserving corks
When using wine bottle corks to seal a bottle it is better to soften and sterilize them in a suitable sterilizing solution. Soaking them overnight is the best way to do this although they can be softened by placing them in hot water for a few minutes. Softening the cork typically makes it easier to insert in the bottle.
If you are looking for wine bottle corks to use for you home made wine there are a few outlets where these can be found for sale. While some neighborhoods may have specialty wine stores these tend to be less common these days. However it is worth checking a local directory to see if there are any in your area as this will provide you with the opportunity to speak to the staff to find the best cork for the bottles you have available. There are also a number of internet retailers that have corks for wine bottles available. These include:
- Quality Wine and Ale Supply (offers natural, synthetic, conglomerated, tapered, plastic)
- Leeners (offers several cork tyles of varying quantity and size)
- Shore Container (offers plastic top and synthetic corks)
Typically the cost for corks for wine bottles is affordable. A bag of 30, 1.5 inch long agglomerated corks from Quality Wine and Ale Supply costs around $4.80 to purchase. These are produced from natural cork and are printed with a grape leave pattern to give them an attractive look. Typically the cost will vary between around $5 and $10 for a bag of 30 corks. If you buy a larger quantity the cost per cork will usually reduce.
Making your own wine can be an interesting hobby and there is a range of supplies need to carry this out successfully. Wine bottle corks are one of these and they can help to keep your wine fresh in the bottle and tasting great when you decide to have a glass.
We recommend watching this video to learn more about the different types of corks for wine bottles.