THE “KEY TO UNLOCKING DREAMS”
The Spanish word for corkscrew—sacacorchos—has its origins in French: tire bouchon closely resembles the Catalan tirabuixó and eventually led to the current Spanish term sacacorchos (“cork-puller”). The metallic taps on barrels could be seen as precursors and contemporaries. To this day they are still categorized based on size and place of origin, such as Anjou, gothic, txpela, or Lombardy.
The term le cles des songes springs from the inherent poetry of wine and provides a perfect metaphor for our use and expectations of a corkscrew. A key of sorts that gives us access to the many worlds and identities contained within a bottle of wine. We travel the contours of the soul and the geography of a country, a region, a vineyard, a parcel, in a unique temporal space, without ever leaving the table.
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Once the door is opened, we're invited to settle into the aromatic intensity of Mas La Plana; the warmth and the ancient Priorat schist expression of Mas de la Rosa. In the end, it is the key to unlocking who we are.
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The corkscrew is inseparable from the introduction of the cork-sealed glass bottle used to preserve and transport wine (17th century). One of the earliest written references dates from 1676, when James Worligge mentions “a coil of steel used to remove the cork from the bottle” in his treatise on cider. However, Leonardo Da Vinci might be connected to an even earlier example, a mechanism to extract corks from barrels or jars, but this has not been proven thus far.
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The widespread use of corkscrews takes us to England in the 18th century, when cylindrical bottles needed a pressurized cylindrical stopper, which in turn needed some kind of tool to pull it out. The first commercial patent dates back to 1795, and during the 19th century, over 350 different corkscrew models were registered in England alone! This has resulted in a robust collectors' movement interested in the many artifacts that the wine sector and wine service has inspired throughout history...
These days, technology gives us guaranteed access to “des songes” without having to pull out the cork that seals the finest wines. A (r)evolution invented and patented by Coravin® makes it possible to enjoy the most legendary wines by the glass. A chance to get lost on the Mount Olympus of wine.
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This ingenious invention consists of a fine, Teflon-coated, stainless steel needle that is introduced into the cork, while also injecting argon gas. This neutral gas does not alter the distinctive aromas and flavors of the wine, and it pressurizes the bottle. Upon removing the needle, the cork is re-sealed and the injected gas helps preserve the wine.
The key to unlocking dreams. The portal to other worlds. The poetics of wine find their ingenious counterpart in a dialogue and an understanding that lets us travel without stepping away from the glass.