This month I invite you to discover cork stoppers ! Wine and cork have been linked for several millennia. Indeed, they were used in antiquity to close amphorae!
First of all: where does cork come from?
It is on the cork oak that we will take the bark that will create these magnificent corks that are used to close a bottle of wine. The bark of this tree regenerates with each extraction.
A long process
The development of a cork takes about a year, between April (debarking) and April (packaging). Throughout the manufacturing process, quality controls are carried out at all times.
The manufacturing steps:
– Extraction of the bark of the cork oak.
– Rest period of about 6 months so that the cork matures and stabilizes. The cork boards are then sorted to eliminate those with major defects.
– Boiling : the cork is soaked in boiling water, which will allow the disinfection of the wood, make the cork more flexible and elastic and increase its thickness.
– Stabilization : it is a rest period that will be used to flatten the boards.
– Cutting of the boards then casing: the cork is perforated in order to obtain the desired cylinder.
– Rectification via trimming and sanding of the cylinder and selection of caps according to their category and appearance.
– Washing the caps with hydrogen peroxide then drying and clogging, which will give them a better seal.
– Marking of the cap: on the end or on the roller, or both, according to the defined specifications. It can be done with ink or fire.
– Surface treatment that can be done with paraffin and / or silicone. It allows the consumer an easier unclogging.
– Last step: packing the caps after counting them.
What are the properties of cork?
-Lightness
-Impermeability to liquids
-Low gas permeability (so wine can age well!)
-Elasticity and compressibility (important to plug the bottle)
-The plus? 100% natural, biodegradable and recyclable… You can even use it to creatively make little guys with children, or other decoration for the house!
See you soon for new news!
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