What is Corked Wine?

A corked wine is defined as a bottle of wine that has been contaminated with 'cork taint' or TCA (2,4,6 - Trichloroanisole).

What does a bottle of Corked Wine smell like?

• Musty Basement
• Wet Dog
• Damp Cardboard
• Wet Newspaper
• Grandma’s Root Cellar

How does cork taint occur?

Cork is produced from the bark of the Quercus suber, or the cork oak tree. This natural substance is often the home of little microorganisms that like to eat it. These fungi live in the bark while it is still growing & after it’s been harvested from the tree to turn into a wine corks. In some instances, these microorganisms come in contact with certain chloride compoundss found in bleach and other winery sanitation & sterilization solutions. Once this occurs, TCA will contaminate not just a batch of corks or wine, but it will infect an entire wine cellar or winery. Cork taint effects about 1-3% of bottled wines that use natural cork closures.

Is corked wine safe to drink?

Yes, you can drink the corked wine. Cork taint isn’t hazardous for you to consume, it just makes the wine smell very off-putting.

What do you Do with a Corked Bottle of Wine?

Return to Wine Shop or Winery you purchased the bottle from. Most reputable retailers generally do not question it when you return a corked bottle, so long as the bottle is not almost finished!

What do you Do at a Restaurant if I suspect that I was just served a Corked Bottle of Wine?

In a restaurant, the same logic applies. If this happens, call back the waiter or sommelier and explain your concerns, requesting them to taste test the wine themselves. If the wine is indeed corked it should be immediately obvious to the sommelier & they will gladly retrieve another bottle for you table.

If you ordered your wine by the glass, ask for a new glass from a different bottle. Remember that sometimes the stemware you are using is the cause of the issue, as not all establishments have strick processes for handling or polishing wineglasses.

What is Not a Corked Bottle of Wine?

• It’s not the pieces of cork floating around your wine.
• It is not a cork covered in little white crystals. 
• It is not sediment floating inside the bottle. 

A fun fact is, if the bottle used a screw cap or synthetic cork to close the bottle, it can’t be Corked.