Now, the facts of cork. It’s harvested, primarily, from the bark tissue of the cork oak. A cork tree is first harvested at about age twenty-five years. Subsequent harvests occur once every nine years for a total of about fifteen harvests. That suggests cork trees live at least 135 years, some up to 200 years. Portugal is the main source of cork.

But did you know…

To remove the cork from a bottle it takes about 50 to 100 pounds of pulling force. Does that make you feel stronger? By the way, cork is recyclable. A cork’s afterlife can be found in:

• Flooring tiles
• Building insulation
• Automotive gaskets
• Craft materials
• Soil conditioner
• Sports equipment

Let’s keep them out of landfills. Many wineries collect them or you can search for organizations that help our environment like CorkClub.com.