Corking

Corking is the act of sealing a container with cork, or more broadly the use of cork in sealing and filling contexts. The term derives from cork, the bark of the cork oak, which is harvested for its buoyant and elastic properties.

In wine production, corking refers to inserting a stopper into a bottle. Natural corks come from Quercus suber, while alternatives include agglomerated cork and synthetic closures. Natural corks allow a small, gradual oxygen transfer that can aid aging in some wines, but they can also suffer from cork taint, a musty odor caused by compounds such as TCA. Because of taint and supply concerns, many producers use alternative closures like screw caps or synthetic stoppers. Cork forests are managed for sustainability in various Mediterranean regions, where cork harvesting does not require tree felling.

In sports, corking a bat denotes an illegal modification of a baseball bat by hollowing the core and inserting cork or other lightweight material to reduce weight and increase bat speed. The practice is prohibited in most professional leagues; if detected, players can be ejected, suspended, or fined, and officials may confiscate the bat.

In construction and repairs, corking can describe sealing joints with cork-based materials or cork particles to provide elasticity and moisture resistance. While less common with modern sealants, cork remains used in certain specialty applications for sound and thermal insulation, or in traditional craftsmanship.