Our Partnership with ReCORK

Every bottle of wine tells a story—and even after it’s opened, that story doesn’t have to end.

For centuries, natural cork has been used to seal wine bottles—dating back to at least the 1600s, when it became the preferred closure for preserving and aging wine. It’s a tradition that has endured not just because of function, but because of what cork is: a natural, renewable material with a remarkable story.

Cork comes from the bark of the cork oak tree (Quercus suber), and what makes it truly unique is how it’s harvested. The bark is carefully removed by hand—without cutting down the tree—and naturally regenerates every 9 to 12 years. A single tree must grow for about 25 years before its first harvest, but can then be harvested up to 16 times over its lifetime, living as long as 200 years.

Even more impressive, harvesting cork actually helps keep these trees healthy. And because cork oak forests—known as montados—are actively maintained, they continue to serve as important carbon sinks, support rich biodiversity, and help prevent desertification in Mediterranean regions. In fact, demand for natural cork helps protect these forests by ensuring they remain economically and environmentally viable.

Through our partnership with ReCORK, we’ve been able to extend that sustainability even further—giving natural corks a second life instead of sending them to the landfill. As the only collection partner in Lane County, we gather corks from our own wine service, club member returns, community donations, and even other local wineries.

Over the past year, we’ve collected and recycled 150 pounds of cork—a small but meaningful step toward reducing waste in our industry.

Once collected, those corks are transformed into new products, most often in footwear. To put that into perspective, it takes about 20 corks to make a single pair of shoe insoles, and 52 recycled corks to make a pair of chukka-style shoes. Some sandals are even made with 100% recycled cork footbeds. It’s a powerful reminder that something as small as a wine cork can become part of something entirely new.

Since 2008, ReCORK has collected over 130 million natural corks, grinding them down to replace petroleum-based foam and plastics in everyday products. Even at the collection level, small efforts add up—partners typically ship corks once they’ve gathered about 15 pounds, showing how incremental contributions from individuals and businesses can create large-scale impact.

Choosing natural cork—and making sure it gets reused—also helps reduce reliance on synthetic closures, which are often made from plastic and don’t offer the same renewable lifecycle.

We love seeing guests bring in bags of corks they’ve collected at home. It’s a simple act, but one that connects all of us to a larger cycle of reuse.

So next time you open a bottle, consider holding onto that cork. If you’re visiting us, you’re always welcome to drop it off at the winery. And if you’re not nearby, you can still take part—ReCORK has collection partners across the country. Find a location near you and join the effort, wherever you are.

Because whether you’re near or far, we can all play a small part in giving cork a second life.

ReCORK