Cork

(See also: Corky / Cork Taint, Screw Cap / Stelvin)

Cylinders cut from the bark of the cork oak have been used to close wine bottles for about 400 years, but it was only when bottled wine started to become common during the last 18^th century that both the bottle and cork became regular aspects of wine consumption. Since the last turn of the century alternatives like the screw cap / Stelvin have become much more popular because they are more reliable. At Gut Hermannsberg we use both, preferring screw caps for the fruit-driven VDPGutsweine / Estate Wines and cork for our higher quality wines that are capable of long aging.