Natural Corks
For centuries, natural cork has proven itself unparalleled as the essentially perfect closure for all types of wine regardless of the varietal, style and bottle format. Its natural ability to enhance the beauty of the bottle while allowing the wine to mature, sometimes for years, remains unchallenged.
Natural Cork
M.A. Silva offers nine natural cork grades ranging from near visually perfect visual appearance desired for ultra-premium wines through value priced corks intended for high volume labels. To compliment your bottle, label and capsule selection, each grade is available in three washes.
Colmated Natural Cork
A challenge for some winemakers is achieving a specific price point while maintaining the attractiveness of a natural cork closer. Colmated corks allow wineries to take advantage of the consumer preference for natural cork, while reaching lower price points competitive with synthetic stoppers and screw caps. Colmate means to fill or cover. For colmated corks, we use fine granular cork to fill voids and approve the appearance of a lower grade natural cork body. See how we make colmated corks.
The Story of Natural Cork
Our natural cork production begins in the Alentejo and Algarve regions of southern Portugal. Here, cork oak forest takes advantage of the perfect climate and soil. Cork bark is harvested by hand, as has been the tradition for hundreds of years. After seasoning for at least six months, our Dynavox boiling system dramatically improves the neutrality and purity of the corkwood. The cork bark is cut into strips just before M.A. Silva craftsmen individually punch each wine cork by hand. Unlike automated machines, the operator constantly “reads” the bark strip looking for the optimum placement of the punch. This level of care produces not only superior mechanically sound product, but by reading the material, our corks are visually superior as well. Our proprietary Maszone washing system further reduces any polyphenols or other off-aromas, while eliminating any remaining bacterial or micro-organism contamination that may impart undesirable characteristics to the wine.
M.A. Silva certifies the quality of every cork we sell. Each grade of natural and colmated natural cork receives the same extensive boiling and washing treatments at our facilities ensuring consistent visual, sensory and mechanical quality in each shipment. Extensive testing, both in our state of the art labs and at independent facilities, verifies each product meets stringent guidelines. Our Certified Quality Program defines, measures, and tracks every aspect of our effort starting in the forests and continuing uninterrupted through customer acceptance. Learn about our Certified Quality Program parameters.
General Information
Applications
Natural wine corks are preferred for all types of wine, aging periods and bottle formats. No other natural product offers this combination of visual appeal, neutrality and consistent sealing qualities.
Sizes and washes
Natural corks are offered in multiple standard lengths, nine visual grades, and multiple washes. Custom sizes are also available.
Colmated natural corks are offered in a 1 ½” standard length (24 x 44mm), plus custom sizes and washes.
Durability
Natural corks are recommended for all types of wines and bottling formats.
Technical Specifications
DIMENSIONAL
Length: Nominal ± 1.0 mm
Diameter: Nominal ± 0.5 mm
Ovalization: <1.0 mm
PHYSICAL
Moisture: 5%-7% moisture content
Dimensional Recovery: >96%
FUNCTIONAL
Extraction Force: 15 daN – 45 daN (coated corks only)
Sealing Ability: No leakage at 2 bar
Capillarity: <1 mm
STORAGE
Use before: 6 months
Storage humidity: 40% - 70% RH, non-condensing
Storage temperature: 15ºC - 20ºC, 59ºF - 68ºF
Location: Store in a clean, well ventilated, odorless place away from chlorine products.
