Cork has become one of the most profitable industries for the Portuguese as it has been able to contribute millions of Euros to the country’s economy through the consistent export of this product. In fact this country accounts for around 50 percent of the total production of this item throughout the world and this can be attributed to the Portuguese climate which is quite conducive to the growth of the cork oak tree.
This product is regularly used to seal wines and keep their freshness but it also has loads of other functions. It has been used to serve a variety of purposes, from roads, to fishing boats, to floor tiles. Whatever its function may be, it is a fact that the high versatility of this product has helped make the economy of Portugal flourish.
Portuguese cork is produced from the bark of cork oak trees which are harvested for as long as ten to twelve years. Some trees are even known to grow up to 170 years; the older the tree gets, the more it is able to produce. It takes a long process for this natural product to become wine plugs as the bark strip obtained from the trees need to be dried for around 6 months before they are worked on. These strips are then boiled for a period of ninety minutes, and after which are left to dry for another three weeks.
It has to go through this lengthy procedure before it is cut into specific shapes for wine bottles. Corks are vital in preserving the freshness and the taste of wines as they prevent oxygen from making contact with, and spoiling the wine. For wine enthusiast much can be told by merely observing these wine plugs, such as the source of the wine, the wine’s age, and how long the plug has been in the bottle.
It is in the Alentejo region in Portugal where the world’s largest cork forest resides. Although it has a very large lands mass (over one fifth of the country), this region has a considerably small population and its economy thrives from the production of these wine plugs. This rural area is a beautiful countryside that boasts of the highest mountain tops and the most enchanting plains and rivers. The trees are most abundant in the hot summer months as this region alone accounts for almost 80 percent of the total wine plugs produced in the whole country.