The May 2026 Cork 'n Cap Press

Provence is most known for two things; wine and lavender

A brief history of the Provençal wine bottle

Wine is known to have been around since at least the neolithic period and has always needed to be transported and stored. Early wine containers, amphora, were basically clay pottery vase with a unique double handled open top and a tapered shape that allowed for sediment to collect in the bottom with the least amount of surface area exposure to the wine. The open top had no lid but a thin layer of olive oil on the top of the wine prevented oxidation. The shape also allowed for easy transportation by ship, evident by the number that have been found in ancient shipwrecks.

Glass wine bottles did not appear until the 1600s when mass production capabilities allowed glassmakers to vary shapes with greater control and to produce stronger glass. Still, wine was usually bought and stored in barrel and was only decanted into bottles for service at the table.

Eventually wine started to be stored and transported in this smaller, more practical package. The shape of the bottle then evolved quickly as it became apparent that surface area exposure to sediment needed to be minimized with the employment of the punt, the concave bottom that wine bottles use today, and the need to store wine on its side to keep the cork moist.

The shape of the bottle ultimately became part of the identification of the style or origin of the wine. Wines from Provence up into the 1930s was still mostly sold in bulk to exporters and negotiants until producers decided to bottle themselves. Friendly competition among Provençal domains led to an “arms race” of producers as they vied to design the most elegant and distinctive bottle. Many used the classical amphorae or medieval jars as their inspiration.

Attractive as these bottles are, the production of relatively small quantities means that their price was high - as much as 3 or 4 times the cost of a standard Bordeaux bottle. Despite these costs, new bottles are still being designed; the benefits of such an exclusive bottle shape is recognition and elegance.

Le Provençal cotes de Provence Rosé  $15.99 per bottle or 15% off of an unmixed case of 12

Special Purchase: Michelin Three Star Chef Anne-Sophie Pic's Collaboration With Storied Rhone Producer M. Chapoutier - Just $9.99

Anne-Sophie Pic & Michel Chapoutier. They both agreed very early on to move off the beaten track. They share the conviction that food, for Anne-Sophie, or wine, for Michel, can be reinvented and they both desire to bring their own interpretation to each of these areas. Aromas of red fruits (mainly morello cherries) and spices (licorice, grey pepper). Tannins are firm and silky and the wine has a great structure.  Regularly $17.99, ON SALE: $9.99 and take an additional 15% off a case of 12.

Tomato Wine Update

Last August I had an abundance of tomatoes and decided to take a crack at making tomato wine. It has been buried in the catacombs of Cork ‘n Cap ever since. Thinking I had a quick resolution to my monthly case of writer’s block I came up with the idea of bottling the wine, give it my honest assessment, and letting you, my dear reader, the opportunity to taste the concoction. Before I would go out on that limb, I grabbed my trusty wine thief thought it best to give it a try myself.

After removing the airlock I was greeted by a mild waft of butyric acid. I poured myself a small glass and while it was not quite “spit-take” inducing, the aroma was ever-present on the palate, making it not nearly as enjoyable as I had hoped. Being too stubborn to immediately relegate it to being an industrial-sized drain pour, I plan to experiment with salvaging it as an either sweet or savory beverage. If it does become something even remotely enjoyable in the future, I will happily share the results.

Nothing Says Spring Like Rosé

Need the ultimate warm-weather wine for fans of red? These dry rosés are all made from red wine grapes, and prices start at just $8.99



Last Call For Wine Sixpack #157

Still Only $49.99

There are only a couple left of our current, inflation-fighting and thus-far tariff-dodging sixpack, which contains 1 white, 1 Rosé, and 4 red wines that come in their own reusable, partitioned, eco-friendly six bottle bag. As a bonus, when you bring your empty bag back in, you receive a club discount on the purchase of six bottles or more of any of our in-stock wines. Our sixpack club has no rules and no obligations, just a good value collection of specially selected wine.  Wine Sixpack #158 coming soon.  Check https://corkncap.com/our-latest-wine-sixpack/ for information on the latest one available. 

Pre-Tariff Pricing Still Holding On Our Best Sellers

Chateau La Castillonne Red, our best selling wooden crate Bordeaux of all time, has a sibling. The red has been known for its consistent quality year in an year out. It is a classic 50/50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot that has crowd-pleasing brambly fruit notes, a dryness that lends it self well to pairing with a variety of foods without over powering them, and finishes with firm but gentle tannins.

Chateau La Castillonne White, says “Sauvignon Blanc” on the label but it likely also includes a small amount of Semillon, another important grape from the Bordeaux region responsible for rounding the edges and softening the citrus notes of the predominant grape, giving the resulting wine a luscious structure and mouth-feel.

Try either wine for $10.99 a bottle or grab a wooden crate of 12 bottles for just $108, a savings of almost $2 per bottle. While drier than a typical domestic wine, Bordeaux wines are typically lighter in alcohol and much lower in residual sugar, with minimal chemical adulteration for people who care about such things.  Goes great with tacos.

Won't You Be My Neighbor?

My neighboring building attached to the south side of Cork 'n Cap is available for lease.  Approximately 1500sqft on first floor. This historic Civil War era building would be great for retail or for office space.  Plenty of nearby private parking.  Call or stop by for details.  517-784-0687

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