Futuristic machine learning and Iberian cork forests may seem poles apart, but M.A.Silva is using AI to offer ever more precision and reliability to winemakers.

Cork and wine have been intertwined for a long time. There is evidence of it sealing amphorae in the ancient world and, while it fell out of fashion until the early modern period, it has been the most popular closure for more than 300 years.

AI is much newer on the scene. Its story can be measured only in decades. In the form we most interact with, it has been years.

Yet the two fields are now working in tandem. Cork producer M.A.Silva is using high-tech AI models to assist in the production of its Nobeltech corks. The top-of-the line closures employ Bionic Eye, an integrated AI system, as one of three core technologies assuring their quality.

The fundamentals of the company, at a glance, look the same. M.A.Silva still prides itself on quality rather than scale, and still operates a vertical production to ensure sustainability and control.

Yet AI is pushing the boundaries in terms of completeness, consistency and predictability. The corks may look no different, but it is facilitating a quiet revolution that provides winemakers with the ultimate guarantee for their wines.

Inspection from every angle

Checking corks for quality and consistency has always been key to the cork industry’s success. As a natural product, there will always be variability, and so both employees and automated optical inspection systems have been used to find those corks that do not meet M.A.Silva’s rigorous requirements.

AI is taking on the same job. Its scale and its accuracy, however, represent a step change.

M.A.Silva’s AI-powered inspection system runs multiple independent inspections of a cork, assessing it from every angle and across a range of parameters.

Ahead of the final classification of a Nobeltech cork, 12 inspections are made. Taken together, they offer a judgment on TCA (the compound behind cork taint), mechanical performance and sealing; in short, M.A.Silva can assure winemakers that any cork passing classification will operate effectively and maintain the wine’s character.

Unlike human checkers, such a system is unaffected by fatigue and can adapt seamlessly to different conditions. While M.A.Silva has found that human consistency in such checks hovers around 75%, the AI system is close to 100% consistent.

Where it has the edge on previous machines is in its capacity for deep learning. It is not bound by an existing algorithm – instead, as it encounters more of the product, it finds nuances in assessment.

The precision with which the AI system can detect faults is remarkable. It can spot structural cracks, clay contamination, lenticel exposure and even insect holes (both open and closed). As new patterns emerge, the model adapts, and that information is never forgotten.

For a producer seeking to safeguard their production, therefore, M.A.Silva’s AI-powered system offers more assurance than ever.

Improving the product

Those advances – essentially, doing the work of checking corks more effectively than ever before – is a selling point in itself. But it is not the end of the advance. M.A.Silva is discovering ways in which AI is expanding the possibilities in cork production.

While reliability is paramount, uniformity in a cork batch is also crucial. Over a short period ageing in the bottle – as long as the seal holds – the oxygen transmission rate (OTR) will not be hugely significant. Yet over an extended period, especially when it is a fine wine, the OTR is bound up with the wine’s performance.

The slow ingress of oxygen is a key determiner for tertiary development, one of the key determiners of quality in the world’s best wines. Thus, a consistent cork is desirable. If the OTR is the same across a batch, the wines should age in a uniform manner.

M.A.Silva’s research indicates that AI-selected corks are highly consistent in their OTR after one year, and that the wines’ taste profile is likewise consistent.

In practice, the machine learning can extrapolate performance based on past data, predicting performance over longer periods. That moves cork assessment from aesthetic judgment to a results-oriented process. If long-term consistency in OTR is the goal, AI is meaning that M.A.Silva can select for that.

Moreover, as the ultimate guarantee, the AI system delivers traceability. Even though the system works at an immense scale, its work can be tracked.

It is possible for M.A.Silva to produce up to 40,000 corks per hour (more than 11 every second), and yet every single inspection is recorded independently. Each stopper receives multiple documented quality decisions, including imaging and classification, ensuring that the entire process is tracked.

That traceability of Nobeltech corks proves the difference, and offers an assurance that M.A.Silva has done its work.

Moreover, it proves the value when the improvements may not be visible. There is no sci-fi adornment, no microchip in the closure. The AI-powered system is a great leap forward that actually means the traditional means of production – a natural, sustainable product – remain the same.

The difference is an ever stronger promise that M.A.Silva will deliver quality. That is the remarkable union of AI and cork – the industry of the moment protecting a historic trade.

M.A.SILVA - Premium Cork Stoppers

NOBELTECH® brings together advanced innovation and premium natural cork to deliver unmatched quality and performance in every stopper. It’s a smarter way to protect the integrity of your wine.

Learn more about the technology behind NOBELTECH® by visiting our website.

NEO Micro-Agglomerated Cork Stoppers: Innovation Meets Sustainability 🌿

At M.A. Silva, we combine precision, performance, and sustainability to create advanced cork closures you can trust.

NEO micro-agglomerated corks deliver the look and feel of natural cork with consistent, reliable performance.

• Precision-crafted from selected natural cork particles

• Three options: NEO SELECT®, NEO PRESTIGE®, NEO PLUS®

• Advanced molding for consistency and quality

• Designed with sustainability at the core

Protecting wine, elevating quality, and supporting a greener future.

Come and visit us at WIN Expo booth 221 to find out more about how MA Silva is leading the way in technology and sustainability globally. With new products such as the Nobel Tech and Neo Tech ranges we offer best in class products and exceptional service.

Nobel Tech is a three prong process used to create uniformity and consistency in all aspects of the natural cork

Neo Tech is our proprietary cleansing system used on granulated materials to make the highest performing technical corks on the market.

Use promo code: MASILVA221 for a free trade show floor pass and visit our booth at the WIN Expo on DEc. 4 at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds

M. A. Silva USA is the leading and award-winning manufacturer of premium corks, glass, and packaging for North American markets. It is our mission to demonstrate impeccable integrity, consistent customer service, and continuously commitment to upholding sustainable and eco-friendly operations.  

Kamee KnutsonM. A. Silva USA, the leading and award-winning manufacturer of premium corks, glass and packaging, announced today it has hired two account managers for its California-based sales team: Kamee Knutson and Tod West.

Kamee Knutson has been in the winemaking business for over twenty years and brings her extensive knowledge and expertise of the craft to her new position. Commenting on her hire, M. A. Silva’s General Manager, Mike Bartlett said, “We are excited to have someone with Kamee’s extensive winemaking experience join the M. A. Silva family. Her experience and knowledge will make her a valued advisor to our customers and our team.” For Kamee, this new position is a way to stay connected to the craft and community that shaped her. “The closure is the last thing to touch a wine before it is poured, and I can’t think of a better partner, in that moment, than M. A. Silva.”

Tod WestTod West, a wine industry veteran, will be responsible for the Central Coast and Southern California region. Ryan Riewerts, National Sales Manager, summed up Tod’s hire by saying, “It’s great to have a wine industry veteran join the M. A. Silva team. Tod’s years of experience, along with his winery contacts, are exactly what we have been looking for to help us grow in this key wine-making area.” For Tod, he sees this as a chance to work for a company that shares his values. “I chose M. A. Silva for their reputation as an exemplary company. Additionally, their core values, commitment to sustainability, and outstanding customer care resonated with me.”

M. A. Silva USA: M. A. Silva USA is the leading and award-winning manufacturer of premium corks, glass, and packaging for North American markets. Our mission is to demonstrate impeccable integrity, consistent customer service, and a continuous commitment to upholding sustainable and eco-friendly operations.

When it comes to sealing your wine with care, a NATURAL cork stopper is more than just tradition, it's a conscious decision.

Crafted from renewable cork oak bark, natural stoppers are biodegradable, recyclable, and sustainably harvested without harming the trees. This means every bottle sealed with natural cork supports a thriving ecosystem, helps combat climate change through carbon sequestration, and preserves the heritage of fine winemaking.

At M.A. Silva, innovation meets precision with NEOTECH®—our breakthrough cork purification technology. Through a continuous and automated process using controlled steam and pressure, NEOTECH® effectively removes TCA and other volatile compounds from cork granules. The result? Clean, consistent corks that preserve the purity of your wine and protect your reputation. Bottle after bottle.

This is more than technology—it’s our commitment to excellence in every detail. Learn more about how NEOTECH® sets a new standard in cork innovation: https://www.masilva.com/technology/#neotech

"The relationship I had built with M. A. Silva is the reason I moved everything to them"

Erica Stancliff, a consulting winemaker renowned for her meticulous attention to detail and unwavering commitment to quality, has been working with M. A. Silva since 2010. Initially, she relied on M. A. Silva solely for corks. However, by 2015, her trust in their products and services grew so much that she transitioned all her clients’ packaging needs, including specialized glass molds and box printing, to M. A. Silva.

Stancliff’s decision to move everything to M. A. Silva was not made lightly. The catalyst for this shift was the exceptional relationship she developed with their team. “The relationship I had built with M. A. Silva is the reason I moved everything to them,” Stancliff explains. The previous glass vendor she used had consistent issues with variability, delivery problems, and a lack of reliable customer service. These challenges were particularly problematic given the complex logistics involved in managing multiple clients, vineyards, and appellations.

In the world of winemaking, timing is critical, especially when arranging multiple bottlings around the precise delivery of materials. Working across six different brands with a variety of SKUs, Stancliff has to manage a complex array of sizes, counts, and other variables. In such a high-stakes environment, having a reliable partner like M. A. Silva has been invaluable. “If anything ever goes wrong, I know M. A. Silva will answer and help find a solution,” she says.

Trust is the foundation of any successful partnership, and for Stancliff, being able to hand off projects to M. A. Silva with the confidence that they will be executed perfectly has been a game changer. Keeping orders and billing straight is no small feat, but M. A. Silva’s transparency and organization have made it easier for Stancliff to stay on top of her responsibilities. “They are very good at staying organized and staying on top of it. I rely on them a lot to keep myself organized,” Stancliff shares. Whether it’s dealing with changes in billing or navigating potential snags, M. A. Silva’s clear communication and willingness to find workarounds have made them an indispensable partner.

M. A. Silva’s commitment to transparency extends beyond day-to-day operations. Stancliff appreciates their candidness when discussing broader issues, such as potential tariff changes or other barriers that could impact the supply chain. Despite these challenges, she continues to find M. A. Silva’s offerings aligned with her cost comparisons, ensuring that she receives value without compromising quality.

One of the highlights of Stancliff’s relationship with M. A. Silva was a trip to Portugal, where she had the opportunity to see the cork forests firsthand. “Watching the cultural pride around the forests and how much is centered around that industry was fascinating,” Stancliff recalls. She was particularly struck by the sustainability practices in place, where every part of the cork is utilized—even the dust. By choosing M. A. Silva’s corks, Stancliff not only supports sustainability but also helps keep people employed and contributes to the preservation of an entire ecosystem.

For Stancliff, working with M. A. Silva is about more than just business; it’s about making the right decisions for the environment and the people who depend on it. “I know I’m making the right decision, but now I am convinced and proud to be supporting it,” she concludes. With M. A. Silva as a partner, Stancliff can continue to focus on what she does best—creating exceptional wines—while knowing that the materials and practices behind each bottle align with her values of quality and sustainability.

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Wine Closure Pairing: An Old Challenge with New Solutions - infowine.com

Effects of different closure systems on the evolution of red wine during short- and medium-term storage (5 to 35 months).