Euronews goes to Catalonia to see how corks are made and the growing environmental challenges faced by the cork industry.
ADVERTISEMENTFor 400 years, cork has been the go-to material for sealing wine bottles. It's elastic and tight, yet allows a miniscule amount of oxygen through, helping to age the wine perfectly. Moreover, it is an entirely renewable and natural product.
Cork comes from the bark of a cork oak tree and today’s production is a happy marriage between tradition and technology.
The traditional method of removing bark without harming the tree is combined with modern industrial techniques that greatly reduce the risk of the cork spoiling the wine.
But the ecosystem that allows cork trees to flourish is under threat. Rising temperatures in the Mediterranean region mean cork oaks are falling victim to drought, disease and forest fires.
In this 360 report, join us to see how wine corks are made and why scientists are worried about the future.
This 360-degree video was shot with a GoPro Fusion