Why is it so hard to find wine now with actual cork instead of synthetic? Is real cork expensive?

Question

Why is it so hard to find wine now with actual cork instead of synthetic? Is real cork expensive?

Answer 1

If you enjoy the chore of using a actual cork, then I'm sorry to say that you won't have much luck in future as there is an actual cork oak shortage!

Not only is it used for wine corks, but also for women's shoes amongst many other items.

The price is therefore higher, and it is logical that winemakers will use other means. Also, the convinience and sanitary reasons for a synthetic cork is in higher demand.

Answer 2

Actually there is a cork shortage now, as it is the bark of the cork tree that grows in only certain areas of the world.  And the wine market has exploded recenty.

Also, synthetic cork is less likely to cause spoilage (also known as corkage in the industry) since it can be sterilized and the porousness in scientifically uniform.  

Answer 3

Winemakers are realizing that other choices of closures provide better storage.

Cork is the bark of a certain genus of an oak tree.  To make it adaptable for a wine closure, it needs to be formed...and most importantly STERILIZED.  If it is not 100% sterilized, it will "cork" the wine - that is, the wine is infected with the bacteria living in and on the cork, producing a "wet cardboard" aroma.

At one time the incidence of "corked" wines was a s high as 20%.  If you were a business owner, how would you feel about losing 20% of your product/inventory over a controllable issue?

Stelvin closures - as well as syncorks, zorks, and the Reynolds glass closure - provide better sealing than cork ever could...and most of the above allow the wine to age, as well.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Yes. Real cork is expensive and synthetics are just as good, if not better for sealing wine. The bottles are easier to store too, as they don't have to be horizontal. So what if the French don't like the synthetic corks? What do they know about good wine? ;-)

Answer 5

real corks take much refining, shaping, and modeling that would remain cylindrical, since its made of actual wood, while synthetic corks are easy to form w/o breaking, besides, the price of real corks will affect the price of the wine, you wouldn't want that, do you?

Answer 6

Might I add to this discussion that I find synthetic corks to be pain in the behind to open.  The darn things couldn't be in there tighter (yes, I know, its good thing), if we were taking about Mama Cass fitting into size 4 jeans.  If they're gonna break with tradition, they should just break and go with s***w tops.  And wouldn't it be great, I can just see a waiter at some high falutin restaurant ceremoniously unscrewing the cap off of a 200 dollar bottle of wine.  So, I've had my share of corked wines, but I still like natural corks.  

Answer 7

There was an attempt to introduce this in France - customers immediately rejected it - producers use again natural cork - full stop -

You get what your level deserves -