Resources & Links
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How to Contact Us
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Website: www.wineeducate.com
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Instagram: @wineeducate
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Email: joanne@wineeducate.com
Episode Summary
This week we’re diving into a topic I’ve wanted to talk about for a while—wine closures. Whether you’re studying for WSET Level 3 or just wondering why some wines pop and others twist, this episode breaks down the major closure types, their pros and cons, and what they mean for wine quality and storage.
While this could easily become a deep dive (and I may still do that one day), today’s episode is an overview to help you better understand how closures affect the wine in your glass and what to look out for as a consumer or student.
What You’ll Learn
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The difference between natural cork, technical corks, synthetic corks, screwcaps, Vinolok, and crown caps
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What TCA is, how it affects wine, and why it still impacts up to 2–3% of cork-closed wines
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The pros and cons of each closure, from oxygen ingress to perception and pricing
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Why synthetic corks aren’t recommended for aging, and how fast they let in oxygen
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Why screwcaps are often a better choice for fresh, young wines—and how liner options now offer controlled oxygen exposure
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What to do if you're storing wine at home—and how your closure type matters
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Real-world advice on how closures show up in blind tastings, and how they might influence your assumptions
A Quick Snapshot
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