Comparison of different types of plugs and caps

Cork stoppers

1. Excellent sealing: Thanks to their structure and elasticity, cork stoppers provide very good sealing and protection against oxidation, which contributes to maintaining quality during long-term storage.
2. Tradition and elegance: Cork stoppers are traditional and often considered an elegance that adds to the overall experience of the drink
3. Breathing: The cork allows for gentle "breathing", which can be positive for wines that develop over time, especially red wines and some white wines.
4. Easy to use – The conical cork stopper allows easy manual closing by pushing, for the cylindrical stopper it is necessary to use a tool that presses and inserts the stopper.

Comparison of natural vs. agglomerated and microcork stopper:

Natural cork stoppers

WITHú produced-cut from whole pieces of cork, which are processed and shaped into plugs. This type of plugs uses cork material without gluing, unnecessary additives or processing materials.

 Advantages:

1. Breathing: Due to their structure, natural corks allow the wine to breathe slightly, which can be desirable for wines that develop and improve over time.
2. Traditional value / Aesthetics: Natural cork stoppers are considered traditional and prestigious, which can contribute to the perception of a higher value of the drink.
3. Service life: High-quality natural cork has a long life, even more than 10 years.

Disadvantages:

1. Higher price: Compared to agglomerated or microcork stoppers, they are more expensive.
2. Variability in quality: Each natural cork stopper is an original with a unique structure. With lower quality cork, there may be problems with TCA (so-called cork taste), breakage or tightness. (this problem can be avoided with responsible quality selection)

Agglomerated cork stoppers

They are made of cork crumb, which is glued together using glue or other connecting material. 

 Advantages:

1. Price: Aagglomerated corks are usually cheaper than natural corks because they are made from the secondary raw material that remains after cutting out natural corks.
2. Consistent quality / Uniformity: Thanks to the production process, agglomerated plugs have the same properties and level of sealing, which eliminates variability in quality.
3. Use of secondary crust / Ecological approach: for production, the residual bark after the cutting of natural bays is used, which makes it possible to use 100% bark, without unnecessary waste.

Disadvantages:

1. Risk of corky taste: Although less common, some agglomerated corks may still contain small amounts of cork, which can cause a so-called cork taste (TCA).
2. Shorter lifespan: compared to natural and micro cork stoppers.

Microcork plugs / FUSIONCORK

Innovative cork stopper, made of high-quality selected fine-grained cork. This material combines the advantages of natural cork and modern technologies, which ensures better tightness, durability and stability.

 Advantages:

1. Innovative material / Advanced technology: FUSIOCORK stoppers are made of cork, which is subjected to a special treatment process that ensures high quality and excellent properties.
2. No TCA / No cork smell: Like DIAM corks, FUSIOCORK is made to eliminate cork taste and smell. 
3. Consistent quality / Same features: FUSIOCORK stoppers are designed to provide the same structure and properties for each stopper, ensuring uniformity in quality and performance.
4. Tightness – FUSIOCORK stoppers have a high density of compressed cork, which seals perfectly and preserves the parameters of the drink without unwanted microoxidation.
5. Resistance / Elasticity: These stoppers are designed to be long lasting and durable, reducing the risk of breaking or warping.
6. Ecological approach / Sustainability: FUSIOCORK is made using the remaining bark after cutting the highest quality natural corks

Disadvantages:

1. Price / Higher costs: Like other advanced corks, FUSIOCORK can be more expensive than conventional agglomerated corks.
2. Absence of respiration / ripening: FUSIOCORK corks, due to their structure and high density, eliminate microcoking, which can be desirable for the maturation of some types of wine.

Summary

• Natural cork stoppers: They are traditional and provide very good sealing and breathability, but can have variability in quality and higher cost. They are often preferred for wines intended for long-term archiving and for their prestigious perception.
• Agglomerated cork stoppers: They are economical and consistent, but can have a lower seal quality and occasional cork taste issues. They are suitable for wines that are not intended for long-term storage or for low-cost solutions.
• FUSIOCORK micro cork stoppers: They represent an advanced alternative to traditional cork stoppers, trying to eliminate the problems associated with cork taste and ensure the same quality and excellent sealing. Their choice may depend on personal preferences, the type of wine and expectations regarding the development and storage of the wine.

ALUTWIST – Aluminum caps

They are a modern alternative to traditional wine corks. These caps are made of aluminum and a sealing insert. They use a screw mechanism to close the bottle. 

 Advantages:

1. Simplicity and comfort: The screw caps are very easy to open and close, making it easy to access the contents of the bottle without the need for a corkscrew.
2. Tightness: Aluminum caps provide a very good seal, which helps to minimize the ingress of air into the bottle and thus reduces the risk of wine oxidation.
3. Stability: Unlike cork closures, which can degrade over time, aluminum closures are very stable and do not affect the taste of the wine.
4. No problem with the cork: Aluminum caps eliminate the "cork taste" problem that can be caused by cork contamination.
5. Ecological site: Aluminum caps are recyclable and can be a greener alternative compared to some other materials.

Disadvantages:

1. Aesthetics: Aluminum caps may not have the same prestige and elegance as traditional cork caps, which can affect the perception of wine, especially for premium products.
2. Possible handling problems: aluminum caps seal only on the upper part of the bottle neck with a sealing insert, its damage can lead to oxidation or overflow.
3. Not suitable for long-term aging: For wines that are intended for long-term aging, aluminum caps are not an ideal choice, as some wines may require the slow interaction with oxygen that cork caps allow.
4. Closing head – an investment in a sealing head is required for sealing.