When it comes to preserving wine, natural cork is a small miracle of nature—flexible, sustainable, and self-healing. If you're using a Coravin Timeless Wine By-the-Glass System, you're relying on this incredible material to reseal after every pour.
In this article, we explain how natural cork closures reseal themselves, what affects their performance, and share five surprising facts about cork that might just change the way you see your wine bottle.
How Does a Wine Cork Reseal After Using Coravin?
Natural cork isn’t just sustainable—it’s smart. Its cellular structure is made up of millions of tiny air-filled cells that are both flexible and resilient. When a Coravin Timeless™ wine by-the-glass system inserts its medical-grade needle through the cork, it gently displaces the cork material without coring it. This temporary compression forms a narrow channel just wide enough for wine to flow out—and for pure argon gas to flow in, protecting the remaining wine.
Once the needle is removed, the cork’s elasticity allows it to spring back into place, effectively resealing itself and continuing to protect the wine from oxygen exposure. It’s as if Coravin was never there.
Pro Tip: The speed and success of cork resealing can depend on a few factors:
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Cork age: Older corks may reseal more slowly due to loss of elasticity over time.
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Cork quality: Dense, high-quality corks offer a tighter seal and faster rebound.
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Temperature: Warmer corks reseal more quickly than cold ones. For optimal results, allow refrigerated bottles to reach serving temperature before pouring.
With natural cork and Coravin Timeless, you can confidently enjoy a glass today and return to the bottle—even years later—knowing your wine remains untouched by oxygen.
Note:
Using bottles with synthetic corks or screw caps? We recommend the Coravin Pivot™ or the Coravin Screw Cap accessory.
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Coravin Pivot: Preserves wine for up to 4 weeks
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Screw Cap attachment: Preserves wine for up to 3 months
5 Fascinating Facts About Cork
1. Ancient Use in Wine Preservation
Archaeologists discovered a wine container from the 1st century BC in ancient Ephesus—sealed with cork and still holding wine. A testament to cork's long history in winemaking.
2. Why Cork Is Perfect for Wine
Cork possesses unique properties that make it an ideal material for sealing wine bottles:
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Lightweight: Its low density contributes to ease of handling and transportation.
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Impermeable: Cork's structure prevents the passage of liquids and gases, maintaining the wine's integrity.
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Rot-resistant: The presence of suberin makes cork resistant to moisture and decay.
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Compressible and Expandable: Cork can be compressed upon insertion and then expands to form a tight seal within the bottle neck.
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Flexible: Its elasticity allows it to adapt to the bottle's interior, ensuring a consistent seal even as conditions change.
These characteristics collectively contribute to cork's effectiveness as a wine stopper.
3. Cork Forests Thrive in Portugal
Portugal is the leading producer of cork globally, accounting for approximately 50% of the world's supply. The country's vast cork oak forests, known as "montados," cover extensive areas and benefit from Portugal's favorable climate and soil conditions, which are ideal for cork oak growth.
4. Harvesting Is Incredibly Sustainable
Cork oak trees are remarkable for their regenerative bark, which can be harvested every 9 years without harming the tree. These trees can live up to 200 years, providing a long-term, renewable source of cork. This sustainable harvesting process supports both the environment and the economies of cork-producing regions.
5. Fireproof by Nature
The thick, insulating bark of cork oak trees acts as a natural fire retardant, allowing them to withstand forest fires and aiding in the rapid recovery of cork forests after such events. This resilience contributes to the stability and sustainability of cork ecosystems.
Want More Wine Wisdom?
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