RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

What are the recent improvements in cork quality?
The natural cork industry has invested millions of dollars to ensure the consistent quality of the natural cork closure.

Some of the advances that the natural cork industry has instilled in order to decrease the incidence of TCA include:

• Introducing new boiling systems
• Using ultrasonic solvent baths
• Distillation under controlled vapor
• Microwave technologies.

In 1999, the SYSTECODE International Certification system was introduced. Systecode is a certification that is given to any cork manufacturer who complies with the regulations of the International Code of Cork Stopper Manufacturing Practices. Cork manufacturers must reapply annually, which helps ensure that they continually adhere to the most current regulations. In 2005, Portugal had 278 cork companies that were SYSTECODE certified.

The research and development investment in the natural cork industry has been huge – the results have begun to be seen in wines bottled since 2001. Top wineries are now reporting very low incidences of TCA, which is a direct result of major changes by the natural cork industry. The future looks promising, with results showing well below the 1.5% level for TCA.