The Algarve's cork industry

In the heart of the Algarve there is an industry that is often little known, even in France with its rich wine history. The Algarve, in addition to being a key tourist destination, is a cork-producing region.

Discover all the secrets of this industry which contributes to the prosperity of the region.

Portugal, the leader in cork production, accounts for 64% of the world' s output. Often forgotten, cork is nevertheless a material with many uses: 80% of the world's production is used to make wine bottle caps, but it is also found in fashion accessories (such as bags or earrings), in the coating of certain floors and walls and even in some new space equipment! 

Cork has many properties: lightness, waterproofing, thermal & sound insulation, fire resistance, flexibility, durability, respect for the environment...

Cork production

Cork oaks are mainly grown in the Alentejo region, but the Algarve occupies a significant part of the production.

This is done in several stages: the tree must be between 20 and 30 years old at the time of the first cork extraction (called demasclage). Then, the "law of 9 years" must be respected before the second stripping, which ensures a cork of much better quality. However, it is the cork from the third stripping that will be used to manufacture the bottle caps, the second one being used more for the construction industry. 
The cork will then be stacked in boards and boiled, sorted and cut.

For a kilo of bark, the producer gets 4€ of raw material to make the corks and only 0.4€ if the cork is used for something else.

A real tourist attraction

In the region, there are several museums dedicated to the industry and visitor centres in natural parks and forests. A "cork route" is even being created, with the objective of enhancing this Portuguese heritage resource.

If you are interested in this industry, it is possible to visit the Novacortiça factory in the village of São Brás do Alportel, which produces "the best cork in the world". 

During the visit, they explain the production steps and all the culture surrounding cork. We learn that Portugal really cares about this production: the government is fighting for the protection of trees and it is even written in the law that cork oaks cannot be removed.
Thus, forests in Portugal are true and highly protected eco-systems. 

Did you know that? Depending on the quality of the cork stopper that closes a bottle of wine, it is possible to estimate the quality of the bottle. The cheapest and least expensive wines have corks of poorer or even poorer quality. 


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