Le Bondon – the ancestor of the bouchon
Dom Pérignon’s world acclaim at the moment is usually attributed to his position in introducing effervescence to Champagne. Nonetheless, some argue that his important contribution really lies within the introduction of cork stoppers to the Champagne area. Supposedly, this revolutionary apply allowed for the preservation and safe sealing of wine from the earlier harvest.
Traditionally, early champagne bottles have been sealed utilizing picket plugs often known as “bondon”, wrapped in linen soaked with oil and secured by oiled hemp twine and later sealed with wax. This made cork stoppers the popular closure. It was handled with a mix of tallow, wax, and resin, usually pigmented with shades like Prussian blue or ochre to guard it from exterior influences. The primary markings have been carried out by Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin: a small five-pointed star on the highest of the cork used in the course of the passage of a comet noticed in 1811 for a cuvée named “vin de la comète”.
Evolution of Cork Stoppers and Modernisation
The emergence of champagne corks as we all know them at the moment dates again to 1827. Initially, they have been crafted from thick sq. cork items, softened in sizzling water, and pushed into the bottle neck with mallets earlier than being secured with twine. Subsequently, the method was mechanised with the introduction of corking machines within the 1840s.
The fashionable corking methodology because it exists at the moment, involving a sealed cork, a muselet plate (additionally known as a capsule), and a steel muselet to affix the cork, was established in 1844. This revolutionary mixture was patented by Alphonse Jacquesson.
From the 1870s onwards, champagne manufacturers started showcasing the classic prominantly of their advertising. Concurrently, this apply of indicating the classic commenced with its inclusion on the cork. Nonetheless, some producers solely regularly embraced this method, with Charles Heidsieck adopting it in 1889 and Pommery in 1892.
Sourcing, Developments, and Plastic Cork Experiment
Champagne corks primarily hail from Catalonia and Andalusia, identified for his or her distinctive cork high quality. Notably, in the course of the nineteenth century, a big migration from Catalonia to Champagne occurred. Many people from Catalonia ventured to Champagne, taking over roles associated to cork processing inside champagne homes or the cork factories established by Spanish immigrants. One notable instance is Oller, now a serious provider to the champagne trade, with headquarters spanning Reims, Girona, and Badajoz.
A cork tree in Portugal with 30 years of bark development
Excessive-quality Spanish corks, significantly these from the mountainous and arid Catalonia area, are broadly acknowledged for his or her tightly compressed cork cells. Since 1936, Portuguese corks have additionally turn into a part of the manufacturing on account of disruptions in cork provide triggered by the Spanish Civil Conflict.
Corks are available three kinds: they are often strong or composed of two segments bonded with gutta-percha, a pure latex adhesive, or agglomerated. For premium cuvées, you may uncover pure corks made up of 4 or extra assembled items. At one finish of the bouchon, full cork discs are hooked up, with the finest-quality cork reserved for the outermost disc, which instantly interacts with the wine. This revolutionary method, originating within the Twenties, successfully met the rising world demand for cork by producing sturdy closures able to withstanding the pressures exerted by highly effective equipment.
Nonetheless, the prevailing apply for many champagne bottles is to make use of agglomerated corks, primarily manufactured within the Champagne area. These composite corks are created by mixing adhesive and high-quality cork waste, forming a strong cylindrical construction often known as the “manche.” This growth ensured wine stability throughout extended storage and notably decreased points like cork taint, leading to important high quality enhancements.
Within the Nineteen Fifties, an experiment involving plastic champagne corks was undertaken. However, sadly (or fortuitously relying on the way you see it) it turned out they let an excessive amount of oxygen in. The permeability of plastic to oxygen was detrimental to the wines throughout their time sur lattes, rendering it appropriate for younger wines however unsuitable for ageing. Consequently, plastic corks have been discontinued, significantly as they didn’t align aesthetically with the distinguished picture related to champagne.
The collective effort that created the champagne cork resulted in enhanced high quality, the incorporation of classic markings, however ost importantly the emergence of an icon. It now stands as a logo of celebration and festivity, so profoundly important that it has given rise to an intersting motion: buttappœnophilia. The gathering of corks immortalize particular moments and pay homage to the timeless legacy of the world’s most iconic wine.
