drengel
Well-Known Member
is it necesary to sanitize corks prior to bottling? if so, how do you go about doing that?
Lounge Lizard said:Tim Vandergriff, of Winexpert fame, has the following to say:
"Never, ever soak your corks in anything, much less a sanitising solution. No matter what the sanitiser, it will be dilute enough (after soaking into the cork, which has a virtually infinite surface area for dispersal) that it will be effectively water, and will activate any mould or contaminants on the cork."
If you keep corks dry (but humid) they self-sanitise through capillary action. When they're in contact with wine they are sanitised by contact with a low-pH solution of alcohol.
"Let me repeat: NEVER SOAK YOUR CORKS.
DO NOT SOAK THEM IN SULPHITE
DO NOT SOAK THEM OVERNIGHT
DO NOT SOAK THEM ON A BOAT
DO NOT SOAK THEM INSIDE A GOAT
DO NOT SOAK THEM IN A BOWL
DO NOT SOAK THEM WITH ALL YOUR SOUL
DO NOT SOAK THEM WINEMAKER MAN
SOAKING CORKS IS NOT THE PLAN!"
I am not sure gassing the corks is humane.
I like the sound of the vodka soaking. That would counter the dilution argument in my mind. Then you could challenge your buds to drink the bowl of corky, finger-dipped vodka.
A dry cork in a bottle is... er... well hard to make go. lol
"Let me repeat: NEVER SOAK YOUR CORKS.
DO NOT SOAK THEM IN SULPHITE
DO NOT SOAK THEM OVERNIGHT
DO NOT SOAK THEM ON A BOAT
DO NOT SOAK THEM INSIDE A GOAT
DO NOT SOAK THEM IN A BOWL
DO NOT SOAK THEM WITH ALL YOUR SOUL
DO NOT SOAK THEM WINEMAKER MAN
SOAKING CORKS IS NOT THE PLAN!"
Enter your email address to join: