Bottling is the final step before your homemade wine is ready to enjoy. It is also the point where careful preparation matters most.

A clear, stable wine bottled with clean equipment can age well and taste great for months or years. A wine bottled too early or with poor sanitation can oxidise, spoil or develop unwanted sediment.

Before you bottle wine

Your wine should be:

• Fully fermented
• Clear or mostly clear
• Stable and not producing bubbles
• Racked off heavy sediment
• Adjusted for sweetness and acidity
• Stabilised if you have backsweetened it

Take a final hydrometer reading and make sure it has remained stable. If there is any doubt that fermentation is still active, do not bottle yet.

Wine Hydrometers

What you need

Prepare:

• Clean wine bottles
• Corks, screw caps or other suitable closures
• Corker or bottle capper, depending on closure type
• Sanitiser
• Siphon and bottling wand
• Bottling bucket or clean carboy
• Labels, if desired

Shop Wine Bottles, Corks and Bottling Equipment

Step 1: Clean and sanitise everything

Clean bottles thoroughly to remove residue, then sanitise them before filling.

Also sanitise:

• Siphon tubing
• Bottling wand
• Bung and airlock
• Corker or capper contact points
• Any vessel the wine will pass through

Wine is more delicate after fermentation, so minimise exposure to oxygen and contamination.

Step 2: Rack the wine carefully

Rack the wine away from sediment before bottling. This helps avoid cloudy bottles and reduces the chance of sediment being disturbed later.

Transfer gently. Avoid splashing or pouring from height, as oxygen exposure can cause wine to stale or brown prematurely.

Step 3: Fill the bottles

Use a bottling wand where possible. Fill each bottle to a consistent level, leaving appropriate headspace for your chosen closure.

For corked wine bottles, leave enough space below the cork to create a proper seal without excessive air exposure.

Step 4: Seal the bottles

Choose a closure suitable for your wine and storage plans.

Corks

Natural or synthetic corks are a traditional option for wine intended to age. Use bottles designed for corks and a proper corker.

Screw caps

Screw caps are convenient and reliable for many still wines. They are especially practical for wines intended to be consumed sooner rather than stored for many years.

Crown caps

Crown caps can be used for some wines, especially sparkling or short-term storage, but use bottles designed to handle pressure if carbonation is present.

Step 5: Store wine correctly

Store bottled wine in a cool, dark place with stable temperatures.

If using natural corks, store bottles on their side to help keep the cork moist. Screw-cap bottles can usually be stored upright.

Avoid heat, direct sunlight and major temperature swings.

How long should homemade wine rest after bottling?

Most homemade wine benefits from resting after bottling.

Simple white wines may be enjoyable after a few weeks. Reds, high-tannin wines and stronger wines often improve over several months.

Taste a bottle periodically and record when the wine reaches its best balance.

Common bottling problems

Wine starts fermenting again in the bottle

This usually means fermentation was not complete or the wine was backsweetened without proper stabilisation.

Corks push out

This can be caused by fermentation pressure, overfilling or heat exposure.

Cloudy sediment in the bottle

Some sediment is normal over time, but heavy sediment may mean the wine was bottled before it fully settled.

Oxidised wine

Oxidation can happen from splashing, excessive headspace, poor seals or repeated opening during handling.

Frequently asked questions

Can I reuse wine bottles?

Yes, as long as they are not cracked or chipped and can be cleaned properly. Do not reuse screw caps unless they are designed for reuse.

Do I need to sterilise corks?

Follow the cork manufacturer’s instructions. Many modern corks are ready to use and should not be soaked for long periods.

How full should wine bottles be?

Fill consistently, leaving suitable headspace for the closure. A bottling wand makes this easier and more accurate.