Picture: Ken Browne/CGTN

Many UK wine drinkers may be surprised to hear that cork is still the most widely used stopper for wine and that demand is increasing with over 40 million corks being produced in Portugal every day.

Australia is a country which has long favoured screw caps in its domestic market even for top quality red wines like Penfolds, but when they export to the U.S. market, which is the largest in the world, they seal them with a natural cork. Why? Because Americans generally believe screw caps signify low-quality wine.

Now a recent report from China Global Television Network (CGTN) reports demand for natural cork stoppers is booming in China which is one of the fastest growing markets for wine consumption in the world.

Speaking to China Global television Carlos de Jesus, Director of Communications at Portuguese cork producer Amorim said “For 3 years in a row the fastest growing market for cork stoppers in the world …was Australia…”

He says the Australians were influenced by China. “China decided that we want our wine sealed with a material that is 100 percent renewable, 100 percent sustainable, 100 percent recyclable, and it makes a lot of sense to be in a bottle of wine. That is the power of the Chinese market.”

For more information: https://newseu.cgtn.com/news/2024-03-29/Portugal-s-cork-industry-touts-its-green-credentials-1siih3NqK1G/share_amp.html