Here’s to you Toyota.
Wine and Toyota have cork in common.

To many wine lovers, the first part of enjoying their favorite bottle is the ritual of uncorking the wine. It is the sign of a real bottle of wine to some, not those cheap boxes or screwtop bottles that were the symbol of cheap wine in cheap packaging.

This uncorking experience is so embedded in the wine consuming habits of Americans, that the wine industry today is struggling with a new trend in bottling; introducing boxes and screwtops. Yes, a new trend by the finest of vineyards is launching wine packaged in boxes and even in that dreaded twist off screwtop bottle.

What most consumers do not realize is that this is actually a superior method of preserving the wine. The cork is less stable, can get dry and crumble, let in air and ruin your favorite vintage. The twist off caps and boxed packaging on the other hand is far more stable and capable of housing your favorite wine with much more reliability on the shelf and in your wine cellar.

But what does all this mean beyond our dining room tables?

Well, to the cork manufacturers of the world, a wine chilling message that their primary source of income could be spilling away very soon. Evidently, Portugal provides most of the cork in the world today and is no doubt looking for ways to replace this endangered revenue stream.

Enter Toyota in the equation. Toyota’s new concept car, the FTSX uses cork trim in the interior. http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/future/ftsx.html

The new Toyota FTSX concept car.

The cork trim provides a unique look for the FTSX and happens to be a durable material to use. Certainly Toyota figures that the Portuguese will be willing to sell much of this material for a bargain price while they look for new markets.

Using cork seems like a clever idea and a Driven by Women favorite.

By Sandy Boulton