Put A Zork In It! – Episode #543

September 22, 2008

The Zork wine bottle enclosure announces its presence with authority on the Thunder Show.

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Comments on this episode(178) Leave a comment ›

“QOTD: I’ve never used one, it looks okay. I really like regular cork…” by ulu ulu ulu ulu
“Woops I meant big fans of ZORK!…” by Matty M
View all 178 ›

Wines tasted in this episode:

2006 Muse Genie
2006 Hey Mambo Red
2007 Red Knot Cabernet Sauvignon

Links mentioned in todays episode.

Zork Website

178 Responses

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September 25, 2009

ulu ulu ulu ulu
QOTD: I’ve never used one, it looks okay. I really like regular corks though.
September 9, 2009

Matty M
Woops I meant big fans of ZORK!
September 9, 2009

Matty M
Hi Gary, we are big fans of cork. Not only does it allow wines to age naturally as under cork but it is far more environmentally friendly than screwcap. But to be honest as a sales rep it is hard to get market acceptance of the product. On premise love it though.
July 19, 2009

Adrian aka AnGkEr
Zork….cool..never seen it yet though……
February 2, 2009

Mike P
Glad you liked the Hey Mambo, I’ve got a bottle of Plungerhead (by The Other Guys too) that I’m looking forward to opening. Plus, I mentioned you to the guys at Don Sebastiani the other day when I had a second interview there, so if I get the job, I’ll buy you a beer the next time you’re in Sonoma.

QOTD: The Zork is the next big thing. It looks a little weird, but it totally makes sense. Give it just a bit more time, and I think it’ll become a lot more common.
January 29, 2009

Justin L. Ove
The Zork is super cool. I’m going to use them on a batch of wine I’m brewing right now. I’ll let you know how they are to apply. Thanks for the show!
January 22, 2009

Dessert Wine Nerd
QOTD: Never used one but it looks to be an interesting concept, esp. with concerns about corked wines and possible cork shortages in the future. My only concerns would be how the Zork helps wine age or chemical reactions but if theres no difference I think we have the future right there.
October 29, 2008

yowens
Interesting show. QOTD: No i have not. I like the closure, although I feel it only would fit well with the types of wines you had today, the cool name, easy going somewhat cheaper wines. Hard to imagine that closure being popular in Burgundy.
October 19, 2008

Sharon
The zork makes a nifty pop. Have never had a zorked bottle. Does the material of the zork affect the wine, though?
October 5, 2008

Keith Brown
Never “zorked”, but it looks fine to me. Other than the “unknown” of how the Stelvin Enclosure (AKA “screw top”) affects aging, I think the use of natural corks has actually outlived its usefulness. I’ve had “corked” wines several times and because state law forbids returning alcoholic beverages, I’m just screwed. No pun intended. Give me anything other than a cork if it means eliminating the chances of infected wine. What is that stat? 90% of wine purchased in the US is consumed immediately?? Something like that… Why do you need a cork?
October 5, 2008

YoungDave
QOTD: The Zork works for me- and I like th fact that the tops are interchangeable for almost any other bottle to re-cork for a perfect fit every time. I’ve used the Zork on the 2006 Leese-Fitch Chardonnay.
October 4, 2008

Achilleas in Cyprus
Looks like a nice idea, but would question if it gave the wine a synthetic taste.
October 3, 2008

Steve
GV: I went to the wine store and bought a bottle of Red Knot, thinking I would taste it while watching WLTV to see if I could pick up some of the smells/tastes like you do (my “pal” is unsophisticated), but it turns out I bought the syrah instead. Have to go to the store again. Will keep trying. Keep up the good work. But I’m liking the syrah. The Zork is fine. I like it better than a screw top, not as well as the traditional cork.
October 3, 2008

kana winery
despite the ease of opening, Zork Closures are still synthetic plastic cork closures that can give a plasticized flavor to wines. They are cheaper and designed for cheap wines. My winery has moved away from synthetic corks to screw-caps for wines that are not meant to cellar-age. Great show Gary!
October 2, 2008

Bartenda
From a service perspective the zork is very easy to open and can be done quickly. At table side service it is a great conversation piece as well. I wonder, can it be used in different bottles? Then you never have to buy those decorative cork stoppers again and you are recycling!!
October 2, 2008

the unknown chef
I can totally see where the zork people are coming from. I personally don’t mind screw caps but I do understand that the aesthetics of the zork may have more appeal to staunch cork fans. Would be smart if the zork parts were recyclable, are they?
September 30, 2008

Jimmy T
QOTD: I am a traditionalist at times so, I don’t like it.
September 28, 2008

Chris Rufkahr
I am new to the Vaynerchuck World. I love all the videos so far. This was very informative. I like that you do tastings not just based on region or varietal but also on something like the cork type (or closure or whatever you called it.)

I am going to send an email to my peeps that I do In Home Wine Tastings for and see if we can get some “Zorked Wines”. I think it would be interesting to do a wine tasting of wines with different closures. OK, I know it is impossible to find such wines all from the same region and vintage and of the same varietal but it would still be fun. The closures of which I am aware are cork, screw cap, synthetic cork, and now zork. Any others???

Cheers!

The Traveling Wineaux
September 28, 2008

Bruce
I have done a little bottling as a volunteer at a winery in north Texas and we tried the Zork manual system as a test. I have not talked to the owner to see how the bottles are holding up in storage but I can say that Zorking the bottles was a pain.

The devise used to apply it did not really stand up to a small production run. We had to use a rubber mallet and brute force to set them properly.

Now the wine we bottled … it tastes great!
September 27, 2008

Scott the ex wine dude
QOTD – Love the zork, very handy & quick. I have only had it on Plungerhead Zinfandel ($18.00/California)
Very one dimensional for the money though. It went up several dollars a bottle the next time I saw it on the shelf, wasn’t worth it the first time.
September 27, 2008

kathyintex ( kathyd )
QOTD: yes, had a zork before, i don’t mind them. better than ruining wine with a tainted cork. but, some of the romance and flair is missing without the old fashioned waiter’s corkscrew (LOVE that thing!). something to be said for having corkscrew skills. amazing how many people who drink wine everyday and do not yet know how to operate a waiter’s corkscrew.

PS – you people who are not trying a wine simply b/c it has an alternate closure, you are missing out on some nice and surprising wines.
September 27, 2008

Dan-o
I prefer a screw top to a Zork.
I had a bottle of Gemtree from Australia that had a Zork – I think it was a zork anywat.
September 27, 2008

Jerry Bob
Never seen a zork. I like the concept, but the popping sound could be prevented for the sake of those who would say it bruises,what ever that is, the wine.
September 26, 2008

Sean
Have never seen a Zork up close. Wish you had done more close-ups of it. I’ll have to go look for one this weekend…I guess another way you are getting me to expand my PAL.
September 26, 2008

Taste of Grape
I’ve done a few tastings with wines that have the Zork closure. People are interested in looking and feeling, but still very cautious about unusual closures.