Screw top

[homer]

I know corks are the de riguer but I would like to use some screw top bottles, are all caps the same size? Does anyone use screw caps? Where do you buy them? Bk

 

[cpfan]

I know corks are the de riguer but I would like to use some screw top bottles, are all caps the same size? Does anyone use screw caps? Where do you buy them? Bk

same size - no
does anyone use - a few, but not many
buy caps - your local LHBS, but they will only fit specific bottles.

There are several threads about screw cap bottles. Most people do not recommend their use for a number of reasons.

http://www.winemakingtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13101&highlight=screw+caps
http://www.winemakingtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13046&highlight=screw+caps

Steve

 

[closetwine]

I use them. Not on wines I plan on aging for more than a year. The most common size is 27 mm, if for a 750mL bottle (this will fit every lower end commercial wine bottle I've ran across). Buy them online or LHBS.

 

[Wade E]

Steve is totally right, Ive seen it so many times as a discussion here and other forums. You will basically have to save a lot of bottles to find the correct screw tops or buy bottles and caps to fit them preferably at the same place to be sure.

 

[Runningwolf]

Presque Isle sells some screw caps.

 

[cpfan]

Presque Isle sells some screw caps.

Looks like PI sells 28mm and 38mm polyseal & polyvinyl caps. The 38mm are important to many winemakers cause they fit most gallon jugs. The 28mm will fit closetwine's "every lower end commercial wine bottle I've ran across", and some glass coffee flavouring syrup bottles, screw cap bottles sold at LHBSes, and lord knows what else. But they won't fit most of the wine bottles sold in Ontario and BC, especially not those bottled in BC, Ontario, New Zealand, and Australia (and probably other areas). I've got about a half dozen commercial screw cap bottles that I've saved for emergencies, and the polyseals don't fit any of them.

Steve

 

[Runningwolf]

Steve, I never use screw caps myself. For those wanting them, would those tasting corks give them the same short term protection in bottles meant for screw caps.

 

[cpfan]

Steve, I never use screw caps myself. For those wanting them, would those tasting corks give them the same short term protection in bottles meant for screw caps.

Dan:

I can't remember if I've tried tasting corks in Stelvin-style screw cap bottles. Those bottles have a slightly larger opening than a cork bottle usually, so I'm a bit concerned about fit of the tasting corks. Also, there are a couple of sizes of tasting corks, and some didn't fit a standard cork bottle tightly. So it may depend on the exact T-cork and bottle.

When I ran a store, I asked people to bring samples into the store, so we could try a test fit. Might be the best idea, but it doesn't help mail-order customers.

Steve

 

[wjdonahue]

Screw caps might work for whites that are to be drunk really early, but not for reds that are going to require some ageing. The lack of micro oxygenation that you get through a cork wouldn't allow the wine to age properly.....what you bottle is what you get. Commercial wineries completely age the wine in bulk before bottling when using screw type closures, so the wine is very drinkable at the time that it is bottled.
T-Corks do not always give protection. Have used T-Corks in bottling ports, but always have some that get very oxidized with a definite flavor almost of a flor. Would stay away from them.
Another alternative would to be to use normal wine bottles, but use Zorks instead of cork. Quick and easy at bottling, with the ease of opening of a screw top. If you use zorks, however, I would recommend bulk ageing also since zorks do not breathe.

 

[Runningwolf]

Sounds like it all goes back to what we always recommend, "put a cork in it"! Do not put a cork in bottles meant for screw caps either for safety reasons.

 

[closetwine]

"what you bottle is what you get"

I disagree. To each his own, but wines age some in screw caps even, just mot as much as they would being corked.

 

[cpfan]

"what you bottle is what you get"

I disagree. To each his own, but wines age some in screw caps even, just mot as much as they would being corked.

The following is from the FAQ for Selvin caps...

How does the wine maker know which liner will best preserve his / her wine?

Firstly the Stelvin® closure is suitable for all types of wine - red, white or rosé. The liners developed by Amcor offer a highly technical way of sealing the bottle. Thanks to the liner specification, the wine breathes and ages in a uniform way from one bottle to another. In fact the liner itself breathes & allows for an optimal oxygen exchange with the wine.

There are currently two different liners on the market offering two different levels of oxygen barrier. Saranex™ & Saran™ Tin.

As Saranex™ allows more oxygen to pass through than Saran™ Tin, it is usually preferred for red wines and wines which are made to be consumed within 2 – 3 years.

As Saran™ Tin has higher barrier levels allowing less oxygen to pass through, it is usually preferred for white wines and wines which are made to be conserved more than 5 years.

The choice of the liner is really important for the post-bottling ageing of the wine. This choice is also linked to many other parameters (grape type, polyphenol content, inerting method, etc). Whilst Amcor can offer its experience & helps to advise customers in their choice, the choice of a liner is a major decision for the wine maker him or herself.

I know that this is marketing-speak, but it certainly shows that the wineries should expect micro-oxygenation from wines under screw caps.

Steve

 

[closetwine]

Thank's cpfan! See its a matter of preference.

 

[chrisj8221]

thanks for tip about not putting cork in a screw-top bottle - was planning on doing that with a few "recycled" bottles

wonder what else i'm gonna mess up on before i get it all right? thanks again!

 

[Ernest T Bass]

I get (just about) an unlimited supply of whiskey bottles from a Sports Bar.
A 28mm screw cap will fit almost all of them. Out of a hundred bottles, the 28mm will probably fit 95 of em. I do cork some of em, the ones I ship and the special one. Haven't had any bad luck with the screw caps yet. Seems to be an "cheap" way for me, at approx $0.20 per bottle. I will welcome any feed back on using screw caps.

Semper Fi