CORK CRYSTALS - Karen MacNeil & Company

Karen MacNeil

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January 20, 2026

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June 7, 2024

What are those tiny crystals you sometimes see clinging to the bottom of a cork? The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

A. Minerals

B. Tartrates

C. Sugar that has precipitated out of the wine

D. Very tiny glass shavings

Those tiny crystals are potassium bitartrate, usually just called tartrates. These clear crystals won’t hurt you and they are tasteless. Tartrates are simply bits of the natural tartaric acid in wine that have precipitated out of solution and formed crystals. The change in acidity from a liquid to a solid form can happen when a wine undergoes a drastic change in temperature.

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