On Dec 19, 2:58 pm, wrote:
> > I have seen similar things with some port bottles. My first question
> > is: what type of corks are you using? my second question is: is it
> > possible that you left a wine residue on the top of the cork? Once
> > the sufite reacts off, any remaining wine on the outside surface of
> > the cork could certainly mold up if mold is in the air. Remedy
> > options 1) clean the corks and bottle tops with b-brite or something.
> > Possiblly use a light solution of bleach as a last resort 2) remove
> > the corks and replace them with new corks. Before removing the old
> > cork, use a 10% bleach solution to kill anything there. Let the
> > bleach stand wet for 10 minutes, then rinse well. This will prevent
> > contanimation into the new closure.
> > If you are really worried, option 2 is the most conservative, but 1 is
> > pretty easy and you can do them all at once.
> > BTW, how do you know that it is mold? Maybe it is mildew. Maybe it is
> > dried seepage past the cork? you could see the latter since it is a
> > clear glass bottle.
>
> It could very well be mildew... They have a bit of a mildew smell to
> them?? There really is no sepage... What I'm noticeing is along the
> cork on its sides. The top of the corks are dry and appear fine. They
> are the best real corks I could get from st. pats... Put in with an
> Itialian floor corker.
> I like your sugestion on useing bleach. I fill my bottles with a
> small hose and it is possible I had wine residue along the neck of the
> bottle and that is molding/mildewing?? Do you usually wipe the inside
> of the necks down before you sink the corks?- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

There needs to be air for this to grow, replace the corks or bottles.
Sometimes the mold that they make the bottle in will have a ridge
inside too, you can see it on clear bottles. If the cork does not
expand fully and make intimate contact with the bottle this can
happen. Don't worry about cleaning necks when inserting, the cork
will do that on it's way in. If you replace corks swab out the area
where the mold was growing with sulfite.

Joe