Cork and screw cap
German: Korken und Schraubverschluss Also known as: Schraubverschluss, Naturkork, Flaschenverschluss
Common bottle closures for wine: natural cork or alternatives such as screw caps. Both can protect wine well and each has quirks.
Natural cork is obtained from the bark of the cork oak and lets minimal oxygen through, which influences ageing. It is traditional and widespread for wines meant for cellaring. A drawback is the occasional cork taint, which causes a musty taste.
The screw cap is airtight and free of cork taint, and is used above all for fresh wines meant to be drunk young, though now also for high-quality ones. Other options include agglomerated cork, glass closures or plastic stoppers. A screw cap says nothing about the quality of a wine; what matters is how it was made and stored.