Rubber Corks: Love Them or Hate Them?

June 20, 2009

I dislike rubber corks. Sure, I appreciate their usefulness, (rubber corks protect against tainted or "corked" wine) but I simply can't stand them. Rubber corks are much harder to remove than their natural counterparts; I've broken more than one wine opener while trying to pull a rubber cork out; and after the bottle is open, the rubber corks never slide easily back inside. Am I overreacting? Does anyone else have a problem with rubber corks?

19 Comments

3 years

you'd have to be an idiot to break a wine opener on a rubber cork. jesus christ, what is wrong with people? you have absolutely no business drinking wine if you struggle opening it.

3 years

The question that headlines & the question on the survey is "Rubber corks: Love them or Hate them?" Personally, I've never had any problems w/ rubber corks...

3 years

OMG! we spent 2 hours picking the rubber cork out of the top of the bottle. Two different openers. I was like the rubber was fused to the glass sides! Of course if you;ve never had this experience you would not beleive it. Try and stay focused people, the original postw as about being STUCK! Where is the solution. OK finally its opened!

bluesarahlou 3 years

The rabbit ones are pretty cool, I imagine there aren't many corks that would give it an issue! :) I have a really nice waiter's corkscrew from a winery that's never given me problems.

Modus Vivendi 3 years

I have a fancy rabbit corkscrew that gets most out easily, and I never re-cork, I use a bottle stopper, so I guess if I had to pick I'd choose rubber corks because of the cork tree issue.

ElleJay 3 years

I actually think they are easier to get in and out of the bottle!! Never had a problem ith them.

PrincessLtrain 3 years

I've never broken a wine opener because of a rubber cork, so I'm thinking people are just using cheap utensils. :) If recorking is an issue, just go buy some pretty bottle stoppers. I have so many that I never think twice to toss the cork.

tlsgirl 3 years

I like the regular corks better, but it's just a more traditional preference, not because i find them easier to remove.

piecesbroken 3 years

i don't mind the rubber ones in the least. they never break in half because they're to dry like regular corks do.

Molly 3 years

I've been trying hard not to be a cork elitist ;) just because it's silly and can come off as snobby — plus alternate corks are better for the environment since there are only a limited supply of cork trees (or as far as I know this is true). Though to be honest, I like screw tops more than rubber b/c the rubber ones are so hard to get back into the bottle.

bluesarahlou 3 years

littlemzfit they definitely don't look the same as the natural cork! :)

bluesarahlou 3 years

I'm pretty indifferent to cork vs rubber, there are benefits and problems with both. If you've ever had a "corked" bottle of wine, you know what I mean. And rubber corks can compromise the longevity of wine. It sounds like the issues people are having with rubber corks has to do with the bottle opener they're using, rather than the cork itself. And I can't remember the last time I re-corked a bottle of wine. :shrug: As far as screw caps are concerned, I've noticed they're becoming more and more popular with winemakers. Most people don't store their wine for long periods of time, and since screw cap bottles have only been stored for 10 years or so, people shouldn't be so freaked out by the concept. My wine collection has a mixture of all three. And I don't have a problem opening any kind!

LittleMzFit 3 years

At first, I didn't like the rubber corks. Then, I saw a documentary on how the trees were scarce for natural cork. I don 't see a difference in removing or replacing the cork & I've not ruined any wine openers. I just don't think they'd look as pretty in one of those home-made wine cork trays that you can make w/ used natural corks. I like the nostalgia.

doogirl 3 years

I don't drink wine, and I didn't even know that they make rubber corks! I'm an old-school girl though, I like the idea of cork much better!

katiekat95 3 years

I hate them. I've broken 3 travel openers on them. Plus I don't like putting them back in the bottle. I like screw cap wine bottles the best. Easiest to open ;-)

3 years

I've had that problem too!! I've found it easier to recork the bottle if you put the cork back with the end that doesn't have the hole facing into the bottle (though sometimes I've had to use a cork screw to uncork it after doing this, so sometimes that only works once...).

sarahcateh 3 years

i really haven't seen any difference in how easy cork and rubber are to remove, and how hard they are to get back in the bottle. In fact, I like that rubber can't break up when my less than suave boyfriend opens the bottle wrong.

rach1007 3 years

I work in a wine-heavy restaurant and open many, many bottles of wine in a week. Our bottles have both rubber and natural corks, and I really don't find one easier or harder to remove or get back into the bottle.

Peggasus 3 years

I've broken a few corkscrews on them too. Now I have an industrial-strength one that is ok so far. Also, cork is sustainable, and even recyclable at some places. Viva la natural cork!

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19 Comments