Portuguese cork producers are keen to reassure the wine world that the severe forest fires in Portugal this August have had a negligible effect on their operations. Most of the corkwood for 2004 was already harvested before the onset of the fires. Around 3.5% of Portugal’s cork forests were damaged, although the area affected was 20-30,000 ha. Even the most severely damaged trees are expected to recuperate if given appropriate treatment. The total bill for fire-related damage across Portugal is estimated at over a billion euros.
