Named for the countless songbirds that occupy its dense canopy - the Whistler Tree is the most productive cork oak on record.

The Whistler Tree grows in the Alentejo region of Portugal and is over 220 years old. It has been producing the finest quality wine corks every nine years since 1820.

It currently averages over one ton of raw cork per harvest - enough cork for 100,000 wine bottles. As a comparison, the average cork oak produces material for 4,000 bottles.

The Whistler Tree was last harvested in 2000. It is in excellent condition and is scheduled for its next harvest in the year 2009. With a little luck that year may bring its total lifetime production to over one million corks.