Topic: Bottling
I’ve heard both “yes” and “no” on soaking corks before bottling… So to soak or not to soak?
MEMBERS ONLYNo commercial wineries that I’ve worked with soak their corks before bottling because it’s not necessary for larger-scale businesses. Commercial wineries buy corks by the thousands from reputable companies with high turnover. They buy full bags and only order enough for their scheduled bottling runs, ensuring that small excess quantities aren’t left over to dry
A friend recommended microwaving corks in a bowl of water to sanitize them…
MEMBERS ONLYCorks seem to be on everyone’s mind as of late — it must be bottling time! As I think I’ve mentioned before in this column, it’s impossible to sterilize corks and it’s almost impossible to properly sanitize them. Corks are plugs of tree bark, after all. Mold and bacteria are held in check relatively well
Kegging Wine
FREESparkling wine usually comes packaged in either standard-sized wine bottles (750 mL), half-bottle-sized splits or Magnums, which hold the equivalent of two standard wine bottles. However, less common, larger bottle sizes include
Where can an amateur buy a larger sized cork for a 3-liter bottle?
MEMBERS ONLYLike you, many commercial wineries also feel that big bottles make great gifts. One can often see what the industry calls “large formats” displayed in restaurants that have done exceptionally well selling a particular wine (these bottles are often given as “freebies” to reward sales). As lovely as these bottles are, it can be a
Are there basic rules when it comes to choosing bottle color and shape for different styles of wines?
MEMBERS ONLYDear Wine Wizard, I bottle my wine in recycled bottles and give much of it away. A friend who is on the receiving end is critical of my choice in color type and size when bottling. I use whatever bottles I have for reds and whites — tall and skinny or short and fat, green,
Is there a way to stop corks from leaking?
FREEWine Wizard answers: Synthetic corks are becoming more and more popular as commercial and home winemakers alike seek to avoid the 5 to 15 percent of bottles that can be ruined due
Do fluted bottles serve any useful purpose other just for looks?
MEMBERS ONLYAh yes, the beloved fluted tops. I’ve heard many justifications for them from various folks, usually that the tops help you to pour the wine without dripping down the side of the bottle, but I really think it’s just one more packaging trend (like neon-colored synthetic corks). The Robert Mondavi winery was one of the
Bottling: Tips from the Pros
MEMBERS ONLYWinemaker: Greg Pollman started working at Fountain Wine Cellars in Cincinnati in 1974 and went to Sublette Winery in Cincinnati in the late 70s. He joined Valley Vineyards Estate Winery in Morrow, Ohio in 1984 and now is the company’s winemaker. Spring is a good time to start thinking about bottling. Blushes or whites with some
Should I boil or soak my corks prior to bottling?
FREEThe Wine Wizard replies: In the home winemaking world there is quite a bit of debate on how to treat corks before they’re fed into the hand corker and forced down the
Put a Cork in It!
MEMBERS ONLYYou’ve followed all the rules. From the arrival of the grapes through pressing, racking, aging and bottling, you have meticulously scrutinized every step of the winemaking process. Nothing has been overlooked in producing the bottle you now are proudly uncorking as your guests wait expectantly. The “pop,” the flourish … and you pour yourself a
Bottle Basics
FREEIt was the writer Mark Twain who phrased it best, “Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.” What does this have to do with wine bottles?
How can I make homemade sparkling wine?
FREEFirst let this Wine Wizard ruminate over the techniques mentioned above. Adding a little sugar (called priming sugar in the beer trade, dosage in the wine business) to newly fermented wine and
Bottling, Start to Finish
FREEThe sages of winemaking uniformly counsel patience. Yet what could be more frustrating than, after patiently stomping, crushing, adjusting, fermenting, and racking, to be told to wait? But many of wine’s great