Wines and Spirits

Three Essential Pieces Of Equipment To Sanitize Wine Bottles For Home Winemaking

If you"ve decided that home winemaking is for you, you"ll want to know how you can save some money and make the process more efficient. One way to save on costs is to reuse your wine bottles. Although a case of 12 Bordeaux style 750 ml wine bottles is relatively inexpensive at about fifteen dollars, that"s almost $40.00 extra when you make 23 litres of wine if you purchase new every time. Instead of spending that money on new wine bottles, consider purchasing the following items: 1. A brass bottle washer. 2. A sulphatizer (sometimes called a Vinator) 3. A bottle tree (sometimes called a bottle drainer) Brass Bottle Washer The brass bottle washer can be threaded onto a water faucet opening and has a valve inside it. Water pressure against the valve shuts the washer off. When a bottle is placed over the end of it, and then pushed down, the valve opens allowing water to squirt into the bottle at high pressure. This will help to remove any residue stuck inside the bottle and give it a good cleaning. Sulphatizer A sulphatizer or vinator is a nifty device used to sanitize wine bottles. Made of plastic, it holds sulfite solution. In the center is a spring loaded white tube. When a bottle is turned upside down and then pushed down such that the tube is forced downward, the sulfite solution is sprayed up into the bottle. I generally give each bottle about three or four quick "squirts" to ensure full coverage of the solution inside the bottle"s surface. Bottle Tree A bottle tree or drainer can come in different sizes, and generally will hold a maximum of 90 bottles. Often, they will be made such that a vinator can be attached on top. The drainer contains "holders" that are angled upwards over which the mouth of the bottle is slid. This allows the bottle to drain. As well, with the bottle turned upside down, the sulfite gas released from the sanitizing solution rises into the bottle instead of out of it, ensuring full sanitization. The bottle tree is also a great way to store your empty bottles before your next batch of home made wine is ready!

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