Here's a new one - Champagne Corks

Here's a new one to me

On a tour of America's 'Most Visited' winery today we looked at the Champagne - oops sparkling wine - production line. There was what looked like a domestic microwave oven.

The Champagne cork - said the guide, holding up a new one -- is too thick to fit into the bottle and it's so big so it is impossible to squeeze it small enough to fit into the neck of the bottle, so we put 30-40 corks into the microwave and give them a burst to soften them and then they can be forced into the bottle neck.

Now, I have never heard of using a microwave for this purpose...

And I wonder how they fitted champagne corks before the invention of microwaves, but all the same. It's not every day you learn something new.

Oh? You want to know where America's most visited winery is ???

C'mon, you're all wine fundis

Hey, I grew up in NC.
I've actually had to drink that s#$t.

Either a bad batch of corks or, more likely, an off batch of bottles, IMO. And for the most visited, I would have to guess Cht. Ste.-Michelle in Woodinville, WA.

[Robin Garr]

Oh? You want to know where America's most visited winery is ???

C'mon, you're all wine fundis

I know, but I won't post the spoiler. 19th century robber baron, though ...

As a home wine maker who makes bubblies, I understand the problem first hand, but I've never heard of using a microwave. "American" style champagne bottles are designed to accept 26mm crown caps. European bottles are designed to accept 29mm caps. However, champagne corks are only made in one size, designed to fit into the European bottles. With my Italian (Ferrari) corker, it is impossible to put corks into American bottles, and difficult to put them into European bottles. I've resorted to using Belgian ale corks, or plastic stoppers. I may try the microwave trick on my next batch.

I'd guess a Sonoma/Napa sparkling wine producer - Ferrer or Schramsberg maybe?

[David M. Bueker]

I'd guess a Sonoma/Napa sparkling wine producer - Ferrer or Schramsberg maybe?

Wrong coast.

I am guessing...having been a visitor

Biltmore

They certainly make and sell wine (not to me, however)

and plenty of visitors

Oh? You want to know where America's most visited winery is ???

C'mon, you're all wine fundis

With Google, questions like this are a snap, or a couple of key strokes, to answer.

[James Roscoe]

Been there and done that. Asheville, NC is a neat city.
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[David M. Bueker]

Been there and done that. Asheville, NC is a neat city.
\

Just not for wine

I am guessing...having been a visitor

Biltmore

Surprisingly they make decent (+) wine here. They have a French winemaker and they source their grapes (for the most part) from the west coast, CA, OR, WA. We have had their sparkling wine and their syrah both score quite high in our blind tastings over the years. Every now and then they will get a decent harvest from the grape vines you see if you visit, but most vintages are imported. Great venue though if you ever get a chance to visit, and Asheville is fast becoming a "foodie" hotspot. Lots of trendy restaurants.

"American" style champagne bottles are designed to accept 26mm crown caps. European bottles are designed to accept 29mm caps. However, champagne corks are only made in one size, designed to fit into the European bottles.

That's fascinating, Howie! It answers the question of how did the French bottle Champagne years before the microwave was invented, or how come I've never seen or heard of microwaves being used in Champagne, the Loire, England or anywhere else making methode traditionelle wines. Tho' come to that, I didn't hear it mentioned in California in Korbel, Chandon etc..

But question is why are US sparkling wine bottles made of a size that doesn't match availavle corks.. would it be US working in inches and Europe working in metric?

I am guessing...having been a visitor

Biltmore

Surprisingly they make decent (+) wine here. .

It was Biltmore, and visitors to the house & grounds also get free entry and tastings at the winery, which is wy it gets title of most visited winery.

I was unimpressed with the wines - competent, but well overpriced and unexciting and tho' I went intending to buy, I didn't.

They make wines with three appellations:
North Carolina - grapes from that state and which might have some Biltmore grapes in the blend
American - NV wines made with grapes from other states
Named appellation -- Mostly California

Their California appellation wines are made and bottled by another winery in CA and just have the Biltmore 'Estate' label stuck large on them.

None of their wines are shown on the label as being made from their own grapes. I was told that the Chateau Reserve Blanc de Blanc 2010 North Carolina methode traditionelle sparkler was 100% Biltmore Chardonnay but the label doesn't indicate so ($25+ per bottle, $3 to taste.)

In response to my question on a tour I was told that grapes from CA (presumably for 'American' appellation) are shipped by rail and take two+ days to arrive. Employee dIdn't know if rail-cars were refrigerated but guessed they were.