Known as ROSA, the proprietary process developed by Amorim researchers has already been introduced into two Amorim plants that make technical corks. Four other plants are scheduled to begin using the ROSA process by year's end.

Initially, Amorim is using ROSA in processing the cork granules that form the shanks in technical corks, such as Twin Top® and champagne corks.

The Geisenheim Research Institute in Germany and the Campden & Chorleywood Food Research Association in the United Kingdom recently completed a series of independent validation tests on ROSA-treated granules.

According to Amorim's head of research and development, Professor Miguel Cabral, these two leading laboratories have verified that ROSA could reduce TCA contamination in granules by 75 to 80 per cent.

Geisenheim is also undertaking experiments using ROSA-treated agglomerate corks to measure the incidence of TCA in bottled wine under typical storage conditions.

Depending on the outcome of further internal production trials, Amorim plans to introduce the ROSA process into the industrial manufacture of its cork discs (also used in technical corks) and whole natural stoppers.

Following the completion of Amorim's internal testing, both the Geisenheim and Campden & Chorleywood laboratories will be asked to validate the results for ROSA-treated discs and whole natural stoppers.

Amorim has also approached wine research institutes in Australia and the United States to validate the ROSA process.

Prof. Cabral was unable to indicate whether ROSA was the long-awaited solution to TCA or when ROSA-treated discs and stoppers would be commercially available.

"A long period of very demanding scientific research and industrial-scale developmental work has got us to what I would describe as an advanced experimental stage," he said.

"We have had outstanding results with this technology in the laboratory and in semi-industrial prototypes, but there are some engineering issues to resolve in relation to discs and stoppers and it remains to be seen how the process can be incorporated throughout our entire cork product range."

The chairman of Corticeira Amorim, António Amorim, said that, while he believed the ROSA process offered great promise, his company would not rely on it solely in the fight against TCA contamination of cork.

"We believe we are on the right track with ROSA and it will add to existing processes such as INOS and CONVEX," Mr Amorim said.

"However, Amorim's philosophy is based on the need to eliminate or avoid contaminants at each critical point in the production of corks - from harvest right through to delivery.

"At that final stage, it then becomes important for the wine industry to understand and follow correct cork storage and handling procedures."