According to a recent study, warmer temperatures caused by climate change might be one reason behind the decline in wine cork quality.

According to a recent study, warmer temperatures caused by climate change might be one reason behind the decline in wine cork quality.

Wine bottle corks are made from the bark of cork oak trees that grow in parts of Africa and Europe.

Results of the study found that over time, the thickness of the bark has decreased, which correlates with an increase in the tree’s exposure to ultraviolet rays.

Cork makers need bark that is at least one inch thick, but the majority of cork oak trees are only growing bark less than half an inch thick.

Rita Teixeira from the University of Lisbon is quoted as saying: “There are several factors like climate change, landscape changes and the dry seasons getting longer that could be causing the decline. The change in bark quality may be the trees' way of adapting.”

The bottle cork industry is worth around two billion dollars, and scientists are trying to find a way to genetically engineer cork oak trees that can grow higher quality bark.

Some wine companies are using metal tops instead of the traditional cork, and consumers might not be able to tell the difference in taste.