#8 x 1-3/4 First Quality Straight Wine Corks 100/Bag

I have been making wine at home for almost twenty years and have frequently used these corks. They are agglomerated cork, not “natural” cork but with proper handling they are easy to insert, seal, and rarely leak. I find this size cork works perfectly for any of the bottles I collect and use, U.S. or European. There is debate among winemakers about the best way to prepare corks for bottling. I have always given them a quick soak (5 minutes at most) in a bit of boiled water, covered, essentially steaming them, to soften them up a little. With the right corking device (see photo) they can also be inserted dry, straight from the package. These cost quite a bit less than natural corks and perform at least as well. Good quality for the money and super reliable.