Vint Wine Podcast The Hidden World of Cork with Jochen Michalski - Tradition, Innovation and the Future of Closures
Cork Supply founder & CEO Jochen Michalski joins Billy Galanko to unpack 40+ years of cork innovation, how the industry tackled TCA (cork taint), why oxygen transmission matters, and when to choose natural, technical, synthetic, or screwcap. Jochen explains Legacy (Cork Supply’s premium natural cork) and its X100 imaging, AI-assisted electromagnetic scanning that screens individual corks for TCA and internal structural risks to reduce bottle-to-bottle variation. We also dig into manufacturing, QC, climate impacts on cork forests, and why consumers still equate cork with quality.
What you’ll learn
- How TCA went from industry crisis to near-zero—and what “1 ppt” really means.
- Natural vs. technical corks: ideal use-cases and aging implications.
- Why oxygen control is central to wine development and consistency.
- How X100 imaging + sensory panels power Legacy’s screening.
- How bottle neck shapes, cork length, and bottling lines affect sealing.
- Forestry, climate, and the future of sustainable cork.
Timestamps (Optimized)
00:00 Welcome to the Vint Wine Podcast
00:23 Introducing Jochen Michalski and Cork Supply
05:31 Jochen’s Early Life and Career
07:43 Starting Cork Supply in California
13:28 Challenges and Successes in the Cork Industry
25:02 Innovations and the Future of Cork
26:54 Screening Corks for TCA
27:40 Sensory Analysis vs. Technology
29:13 Electromagnetic Imaging and AI
32:18 Legacy Cork and Market Trends
34:21 Technical Corks and Market Shifts
38:21 Impact of Climate Change on Cork Forests
40:01 Innovations in Cork Harvesting
41:15 Global Market Dynamics
43:10 Consumer Perception and Cork Quality
49:03 Future Prospects and New Markets
The Vint Wine Podcast is hosted and produced by Billy Galanko. For more content follow Billy on Instagram @BillyGalanko_wine_nerd and for partnerships and collaborations please email billy@sommeliermedia.com.
Cheers!