Screw this cork business

According to the Portuguese Cork Association (APCOR), 88% of the world’s top wines are sealed with corks — 92% of the 2015, 2016 and 2017 Wine Spectator-selected top reds and 74% of the top whites have cork closures.

I find this pretty astonishing. Isn’t everyone like me? Convinced that they will just have a small glass of wine, put the screw cap back on and thoughtfully drink the rest tomorrow?

Screw caps are fantastic for this reason — I can absolutely believe that I won’t scoff the lot every time I open a bottle. (The fact that friends, relatives and I have often have scoffed the lot — plus some — is mere bagatelle.)

APCOR insists that it is cork’s lightness, elasticity, carbon sequestration and ability to provide consistent oxygen transfer to help with the ageing process that make cork the closure of choice for top wines. Cork is recyclable, sustainable and harvested from cork oak tree forests which provide habitats for endangered species. Corks also give a very satisfying sound as they are extracted from the bottle.

But none of this makes me want to go back to cork screws and cellaring to keep the corks wet… I am more than happy with the convenience and resealability that comes with the screw cap.