Why Wine Cork Tiles?

Granted, Wine Cork Tiles are a unique idea that draws attention. They provoke thought and conversation – often conversation about cork.  Which wines use real cork and is there any distinguishable difference in wine sealed with real cork compared with a synthetic stopper? Where do real corks come from and how are they made? Who lives where the cork grows?

Around the Western Mediterranean Sea are forested areas called Cork Montados. They are as important to planet Earth’s environment as the tropical rainforests are. These forests contain a wide variety of plant and animal species that only live there. One of these is the Cork Oak tree (Quercus suber). Like all forests on the planet, this ecosystem is threatened by human expansion. These Cork Montados are protected by the some of the national governments because they provide a valuable renewable export – cork. If the demand for cork were to fall, these governments may relax or cease their protection of the forests, leaving them vulnerable to destruction. Like with the tropical rain forests, unique plant and animal species disappear and become extinct.

This is something we all can participate in preventing. We can teach about the Cork Montados and their great diversity, we can purchase wine that is sealed with real cork and some of us can specify and use Wine Cork Tiles to initiate the conversation.   

Producing Wine Cork Tiles