36 replies to this topic

[mirthywvu]

Not too many posts in this topic, I'm just getting started into winemaking and in the market for a corker. I'm just getting started so I'm not looking for something outrageous. What would be a good investment for under $75, either a hand corker or otherwise. Again I know the options are limited at this price, but hopefully in a couple years I can invest in something grander. Thanks!

[WineThief]

Do yourself a favor and get a floor corker, either Portugese or Italian, you WILL NOT be sorry even if you have to pay just a bit more or need to save up a bit longer, they are worth it. I know there are some folks here that use the hand corker, but we also hear alot of complaints about those models as well. If you are going to make only 1-gallon batchs then a hand corker may be a good option, but if you are going to make WineKits or 5 to 6 gallon or larger batches, I would personally recommend the floor style.

[bzac]

I have a portugese floor corker I bought brand new for less than 50 bucks , it does 5-700 bottles a year no problems.

I might get an italian one which are about a hundred bucks or so but mostly because I am pretty tall .

Z

[zscape123]

I agree 100% with Wine Thief. I started out with a hand corker, but after very few bottles, bought an Italian floor model. It's worth every nickel and you can always sell it on Ebay if you change your mind later and decide to get out of winemaking.

Happy Winemaking

John Z

[mirthywvu]

I have a portugese floor corker I bought brand new for less than 50 bucks , it does 5-700 bottles a year no problems.

I might get an italian one which are about a hundred bucks or so but mostly because I am pretty tall .

Z

Thanks guys for the info so far...bzac, do you have a name and model of the floor corker you have?

[Dryfork Wines]

When we went from a hand corker we went to the Italian floor model. What a beauty and we have put about 400 bottels thru it without breaking a sweat. No corks that are not all the way in either. Worth every cent. Good luck with whichever you get.

[Merilyn]

I started off with a Portugese corker and then to an Italian corker. (Big Blue) I love it ! Can't imagine ever going back to the Portugese.

[NorthernWiner]

...Can't imagine ever going back to the Portugese.

I'm not sure why you would say that. I've used my red Portuguese corker for over seven years now on an estimated 2000-3000 bottles, and have never, ever had a single problem with it.

But I think either corker would be a good investment.

[knotsorich]

I have a portugese floor corker I bought brand new for less than 50 bucks , it does 5-700 bottles a year no problems.

I might get an italian one which are about a hundred bucks or so but mostly because I am pretty tall .

Z

Zac, I got an Italian Floor Corker knockoff 2 years ago for $39.95 in Hemmingford at a little country store. Even with VAT added along with out US dollar, it was under $40. I don't remember the name of the store though. Someone else told us of the store. It's a little store with limited supplies, but you sure can't beat that price. It is very close to the more expensive ones and I have had no problems with it. The iris is even brass. One thing is the slightly shorter handle, but it still takes very little effort to operate.

The Portugese corkers work well as well like others have said.

[Howie]

Why does everyone insist on calling them "Italian" corkers? They're "Ferrari's"! I love telling people I own a Ferrari.

[Merilyn]

I'm not sure why you would say that. I've used my red Portuguese corker for over seven years now on an estimated 2000-3000 bottles, and have never, ever had a single problem with it.

But I think either corker would be a good investment.

Steve, the reason I say this is due to the ease of corking with the Italian (Ferrari) compared to the Portugese. Yes, the Portuguese did the trick even though it left indents in my synthetic corks, but it was more difficult to insert the cork. With the Ferrari, a child could do it. Smooth. As Bzac pointed out, the height makes it nice too.

Merilyn

[OGV]

I am a newbie also and started out with a 2 lever hand corker. After 2 kits I had had enough frustration with corks going in too far or not far enough because it would slip over the bottle lip. I bought a Portugese floor corker and it was a great investment for less than $75 including shipping.

[bzac]

I would say the step up from a two handed corker to a Portuguese floor corker is like going from a skate board to a volkswagon jetta , the step up from a portuges to an italian is like going from the jetta to a volks wagon passat . a step up but not as big as the step from the hand corker to the Portuguese.

put it this way a hand corker at my lhbs is 25$ , a Portuguese is 44$ and the Italians are 89$ to 110$

for the money the Portuguese is the best value for money (and the hand corker is only good for landfill, total waste of money) . and if you are only doing 5 -10 kits a year , and on a budget probably the way to go. I am happy with mine and several thousands bottles later it still works as good as the day I bought it.

but for taller folks& those who need the extra leverage or those who are doing 700- 1000 bottles a year plus.
the Italian ones are worth it.

I am looking at the Italian ones because when I am bottling I use an enolmatic and my Portuguese and alone I can do 120- 130 bottles an hour with that set up , but because I am over six foot tall and the Portuguese is short I get a sore shoulder and back from stooping over during marathon bottling sessions. the Italian being 6 inches taller and having a longer handle is a big plus. they also have a longer range of bottles they fit , doing splits easier than on my Portuguese I have to put a piece of a 2X4 under the bottles when doing splits.

Z

[Crazy Run Ranch]

There is another option for you taller models. The Ferrari is available as a bench mount. Its the same corker without the base. You can mount it at counter height as save yourself from constantly stooping all day. We usually bottle with it and a floor corking in tandem. One of my shorter partners uses the floor corker because he can't reach the bench handle when all the way up.

[MikeB]

Another vote for the Ferrari here.
I think I paid $80 or $90 at my local home brew store.
I'm sure the Portuguese is very similar, as this has been talked about several times.
Either is worth the extra $20 over your budget, your bottling experience will be exponentially more pleasant.