- Wine bottles have been traditionally capped with a cork and capsule, although today many vineyards are opting for a screw-type cap. The predominant color of the wine bottle was green or amber, but clear bottles are becoming popular for white wines.
- Dark green bottles have traditionally been used for Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Mosel and other red wines, while light green or clear is used for whites. Many Rhine wines are bottled in amber bottles and ports; sherry use the dark green or amber bottle.
- Each type of bottle shape is designed for holding certain types of wine. Most wine bottles have long necks with sloping shoulders and various sized punts--the inverted nipple in the bottom of the bottle. Home winemakers can use any bottle they desire because the shape or size of the bottle does not affect the taste. Many vintners are now using square or other geometric shapes to set their bottles apart from their competitors in the marketplace. Bottle color is expanding also, with some wines being sold in blue, black or other colors.
- The wine is bottled after all fermentation has stopped and the wine has cleared. This is done by a siphoning process, which removes only the clear wine from the cask into each individual bottle. The bottle is then corked, or capped, and stood upright for several days to allow the wine to settle. For aging, the bottle is stored on its side and kept in a cellar or other temperate and humidity-controlled area for the proper amount of time for the type of wine. This process is known as racking the wine. For cheaper wines, the racking period may last only a week or two, while more expensive wines may be aged for several years before becoming available in the marketplace.
- Wine bottles can range in size from 0.185 liters to over 30 liters, with the most commonly sold 0.75-liter available in most American liquor stores and wine shops. Popular commercial brands are often sold in 1/2- and 1-gallon bottles that have a screw cap instead of a cork, so the wine can be stored if the entire bottle isn't consumed at a single time.
- Vintners often choose bottle colors that complement the label design they have chosen or are traditional to their area for the wine type. The bottle and label combined are used to attract the consumer to a particular brand of wine. The type of cork a wine bottle has can help determine how long the wine has been aged. Straight corks are used in wine bottles that are aged over 6 months, while the mushroom style of cork is used on bottles aged for shorter periods.
- Not all wine is corked. With today's technology, many wines now feature a screw-on cap, which makes storing wine that remains in the bottle easier for the consumer. While many high-end vintners have resisted this, the use of a cork or a screw cap does not necessarily dictate the quality of the wine. A number of low-end vineyards use a cork to give their wine the appearance of higher quality. Likewise, the punt is no longer considered a true indication of the wine inside the bottle.
