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Wine corks may owe quality to gene activity

Discovery that distinguishes superior stoppers could help reverse global downturn

CORK CONSEQUENCES  The oak trees that produce wine cork may set genes that handle environmental stress on overdrive when dealing with high temperatures, drought and ultraviolet rays, changing the quality of the cork.

Frank Papenbroock/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 

By Nsikan Akpan

- More than 2 years ago

Even the most superb wine won’t last without its cork, but the quality of this renewable oaken resource has nose-dived in recent years.