Photo:Drew AitkenIt turns out my scepticism is justified. The Australian Wine Research Institute’s senior oenologist,Adrian Coulter,confirms that cling wrap doesn’t remove cork taint and published scientific work backs this up.
The big surprise is that polythene or polyethylene (PE),the world’s most manufactured plastic,does,in fact,remove cork taint from wine,but it must be 100 per cent pure,food-grade PE;cling wrap contains various polymers other than PE.
One hundred per cent pure,food-grade PE can only be procured from a manufacturer. Good luck with that,although it would be nice to have a piece in your handbag just in case you encounter a “corked” bottle of Chateau Margaux or Penfolds Grange on your travels.
In the meantime,the best insurance is to have a back-up bottle on hand. Or just buy screw-capped wines.
Got a drinks question for Huon Hooke?thefullbottle@goodweekend.com.au