It's A Corker!

Parts of the Iberian peninsula are cork country: cork is harvested every ten years from cork trees, in commercial forests, and also along road sides. As one drives around, or walks around, one sees trees whose bark has been cut off, for the lower 8 or 10 or more feet, blackened, and painted with a single digit number--the year previously harvested. Rarely, however, does one get to see a crew harvesting the cork, the old-fashioned way. Although I have enjoyed Chateau Screwtop as well as Chateau Plastique, as a traditionalist, I will always prefer cork, and, now, ever more, will appreciate the quality of cork bottled wines. Other things being equal.