Looking for economic bottling solutions

[Affe]

Looking for an economic way to bottle my wines.

Runningwolf suggested the Buon Vino Gravity filler.

I have concord and pinot noir to bottle. Should I use clear bottles for the concord and green for the pinot? How do I know what cork sizes to get? What's a good, cheap corker?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[shoebiedoo]

Running wolf is right. They work great!

 

[Affe]

Running wolf is right. They work great!

Do you know if my 5/16" hose will work with this unit?

 

[jswordy]

Here is what I have been using for years...

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/winemaking-equipment/wine-bottling/bottling-tools-accessories/fermtech-plastic-bottle-filler.html

$2.75

Here is the result...

I never have spilled more than literally a drop or two in a session. Gather 24 bottles together in a group at a time and fill them to the top, one after another. When the tube is withdrawn, the wine falls to the perfect height. Shrug. I can see how higher-end stuff is needed when running off 200 bottles or more, but for a puny lil 100-bottle run or less, this works just fine.

Floor corker is best but a hand corker is cheaper. If it was me, I'd get the Italian floor corker and be done with it, though. (I did.)

Generally, I was taught that green bottles preserve the wine's color better if it is exposed to light sources. If stored in the dark or very dim conditions, I am not convinced there is much of a diff between green and clear in stabilized wines as far as discoloration. I prefer the clear to show off my wines, unless my used ones happen to be green!

If you use a hand corker, #8 corks go in easier. If you use a floor corker, I always like to use the #9s because they provide just that lil extra snugness. 9 x 1 3/4" is what I use a lot.

 

[Affe]

Awesome jswordy, just what I needed to know!

Much, much appreciated!

 

[Runningwolf]

Do you know if my 5/16" hose will work with this unit?

You won't need a hose. Everything is included. I have the portugeses floor corker which is about half the price of the Italian (approx $60). I love it and I've bottled over 3000 bottles with it. Like jswordy said the Italian one is better and may upgrade some day. I highly recommend that you do not waste money on a hand corker. Pick a floor corker, use #9 corks and do not soak them.

A lot of folks start off with the $3.00 bottling wand Jswordy mentioned.

 

[BobF]

I use the Buon Vino wirh vacuum. I like it a lot. I've used wands, Ferrari and now the Buon Vino. I wish I would've started with the latest option.

 

[vacuumpumpman]

I guess that I am partial to using the allinone (LOL) the bottling part of it I really like ,mainly it is extremely fast,consistant level and I can bottle while standing.

Thanks Steve
http://allinonewinepump.com/

 

[Runningwolf]

I guess that I am partial to using the allinone (LOL) the bottling part of it I really like ,mainly it is extremely fast,consistant level and I can bottle while standing.

Thanks Steve
http://allinonewinepump.com/

I agree 100%! because you can do so many things with it. I was just focusing on the economic part thinking he meant a few bucks. Dollar for dollar the all in one is the way to go.

 

[BobF]

I guess that I am partial to using the allinone (LOL) the bottling part of it I really like ,mainly it is extremely fast,consistant level and I can bottle while standing.

Thanks Steve
http://allinonewinepump.com/

If you wouldn't have waited so long to produce, I wouldn't have to put together what I have!