Bottling
is a fun time, since it's usually when your wine is tasting
smooth.
I always feel that bottling is a good time, because I can
already see the look on people's faces after they taste the
latest vintage. Hopefully, they're happy looks,
not like they have a mouth full of sweet tarts.
:)
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What do I need?
I always keep the bottles from the store bought wine for my
bottling. Just remove the labels, wash them thoroughly
and put them in a box until you are ready. We did,
however; just buy 40 + cases from a local winery. They
were used bottles which had to be cleaned, remove the labels, and
dried. I think I still have 20 cases to go
yet. We had to jump on this offer since it was so
cheap.
 | I use the Bordeaux style of
bottle |
 | I use the dark green for red
wines and clear for whites |
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It's actually quite
simple...
Have a glass or two handy to taste the wine when bottling, as well
as for when you finish bottling and you have enough for half a
bottle yet. You could bottle it, but it wouldn't last
more than a day or so. So, I recommend drinking it while
you're cleaning up.
 | clean sterilized bottles
(estimate 5 bottles per gallon) |
 | Corks of decent
quality. I use a #9 winery grade overruns |
 | sterilize all equipment, corks and
racking cane equipment |
 |
Slowly insert racking tube into
carboy and be sure not to stir up the sediment |
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Have your friend begin the
siphoning by the other carboy |
 | Make sure you have the bottling
wand ready to go into the bottle |
 | Only fill about 1/4th the way
up the bottle neck. You'll want 1/2 inch of air between
the wine and the cork. |
 | Once started, have the wine run
down inside against the wall of the bottle so you don't
aerate the wine. |
 | Fill all bottles |
 | Press corks into the bottles,
leaving the top of the cork just barely below the top lip of the
bottle. |
 | Store upside down at least 24
hours as the corks expand |
 | Put label and heat shrink top
capsule on for decoration |
 | Keep in a cool dark place |
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