weeple2000

Recipes 

What is the consensus on reusing screw top bottles? I have tried reusing the screw tops and that seemed to have mixed results. I suspected that the wine from those bottles tasted different, hotter perhaps.

The next time I thought about it I tried reusing the screw top bottles with corks. I have a hand corker, I believe it is a gilda corker. They recommended smaller corks for it, and now that I've tried opening a bottle it seems that the cork doesn't make as tight a seal as it would with a cork bottle.

Should I be using larger corks with these bottles?
Should I not be reusing them at all?

If you use them, do you use corks or screw tops?

Does the thickness of the cork have an impact on how long you can age wine?

brazedowl

Recipes 

The only problem with screw tops is they're designed for... well... screw tops. The glass in many cases is thinner in the neck (to save money on material) and can't support corks. That being said I've corked many a screwtop bottle with no problem, but have also broken a few necks.

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apocalikik

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Guess maybe I'm just a bit out of the loop here but what exactly is the problem with using an actual screw top? Why not just screw the lid back on and call it a day?

Arpolis

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I drink a lot of sparkling water that comes in screw top 11.5oz & 750ml bottles. I just use the screwtop caps and wax it off for a tight air seal.

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saramc

Recipes 

You can buy new screw top caps by the bags, very easy to use them.

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Hollie

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Ive been googling, and I don't understand. When you buy the caps, is there a thingamajigg that seals the cap around the existing thread of the bottle? Or these are simply reusable screw caps? You know how the screw cap has that seal that twists off on the bottom of the cap and you are left with a metal ring on the neck? How do new screw caps do that? Sorry but I'm new and wouldn't mind using screw tops since I have a plethora of these types of bottles.

weeple2000

Recipes 

I thought that reusing the screw tops didn't make a good seal once they were opened.

Could someone post a link to the type of caps they are using with these bottles?

saramc

Recipes 

LHBS sell screw cap bottles to the amateur by the case, and many use this style cap, http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?products_id=1346

The metal band that you speak of, that is crimped on the bottom, this is done in the commercial bottling side, not typically seen at home.

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Hollie

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Awesome! This is my favorite store!!! Thanks for the link.

springmom

Recipes 

AWESOME!!!!!!! When I buy commercially-produced wine it drives me bats how so often the corks are bad and have ruined a wonderful wine. I wish to Pete vintners would just bag the bloody corks and use screw tops. I know, it's not tradition. Poo on tradition. I want the wine I buy to be good /rant

I will start keeping my screw top bottles (of which there are many nice wines represented)!

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Considering: Sparkling raspberry wine, carrot wine

In Primary: Ed's Apfelwein; Raspberry Puree Apple Cider

In Secondary: Pumpkin Pie Mead; Traditional Mead; Dried Elderberry Wine; Blueberry Wine; Texas Persimmon wine; White grape/peach wine; Texas Twang; Hi, Biscus! Metheglyn; A Maize-ing Wine

So far, so good.