Even though cleaning wine bottles uses energy, it is still less expensive than using recycled glass to make new glass. In Europe, reuse is a common practice, but in the U.S., the cost of operating a bottle washing plant now outweighs the benefits. In fact, many bottle-washing plants began making one-time use bottles to stay in business.

Changing the shape of wine bottles made it difficult for wine bottle washers to accommodate. In addition to changing the wine bottles, wine companies began using pressure-sensitive labels, which are difficult and costly to remove. Wine bottle washing equipment education and training may help revive a faltering industry; check out the following options for training:

1. Know the importance of sterilization from tutorials.

2. Meet suppliers of wine bottle washing equipment at trade shows.

3. Watch videos on commercial wine bottle washing devices.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn about wine bottle washing from tutorials

When cleaning wine bottles in your home or place of business, it is important to ensure clean, sterile bottles. Whether you do it by hand or with a machine, there is a systematic process for washing wine bottles. Take the time to educate yourself on how to remove the pressure-applied wine bottle labels, what solutions clean and sterilize your bottles, and what types of drying equipment exist.

I recommend: For an article that provides the how-to of cleaning wine bottles, go to the E.C. Kraus website and DiWINETaste. Leeners provides a brief tutorial on bottle washing, and they provide brief explanations of equipment options for small businesses.

Acquaint yourself with wine bottle washing equipment options at trade shows

Most wine conventions and trade shows include bottle washing equipment as a component of the entire wine-making process. In addition to bottle washing devices, they also offer education and training seminars. Increase your understanding and knowledge by attending a trade show or conference. View bottle washing equipment and/or demonstrations and talk with engineers to help you find the right equipment for your needs.

I recommend: The Unified Wine & Grape Symposium displays an exhibitors list, and they offer education at their annual symposium. The Wineries Unlimited Trade Show and Convention also provides education and trade show exhibits. A supplier of wine bottle washing equipment, McBrady Engineering, has a list of their upcoming trade shows.

Check video demonstrations and instructions on a wine bottle washing device

There are many options for bottle washing machines, so investigate and educate yourself to find the right one for you. Equipment for small businesses can wash 100 or less containers at a time, or you may need stand-alone equipment that handles higher volume. Instead of purchasing a wine bottle washing machine, you may want to construct your own washing equipment.

I recommend: For a video demonstration of a bottle washer that fits into a portable dishwasher, see Cask Brewing Systems. Fowler provides information about a commercial bottle washer; they provide training with installation and regularly attend trade shows. If you decide to construct a smaller washing system, check out the instructions from Brew Your Own Magazine.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Utilize information from beer as well as wine websites because their bottle washing equipment information and supplies are interchangeable.

The manufacture of wine bottle washing equipment has surged within the last two decades, chiefly because American wineries are learning from their European counterparts that most wine bottles are rigorous enough to endure many washings so they can be re-used. Market research has shown that it is cheaper and more efficient to re-use wine bottles than to manufacture new ones. Since most of the facilities that devoted themselves to container washing have closed, wineries are expanding their operations to include the washing and sanitizing of wine bottles.

There's no doubt that wine bottle washing devices present a considerable investment for any business. With that in mind, business owners must select their equipment based upon their realistic needs. Proper planning in this regard is vital. Consult with operations and equipment specialists before deciding on the probable structure for your wine bottle washing system. Luckily, several avenues for implementing the wine bottle cleaning aspect of your business are available:

1. Reach out for home brewing equipment companies selling wine bottle washing devices for small breweries.

2. Contact suppliers of wine bottle washing equipment to buy cleaning tools for your restaurant wine cellar.

3. Buy heavy-duty wine bottle washers for a more sizable wine making facility.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get wine bottle washing equipment for small-scale breweries

Small-scale wine breweries can easily get by using much of the equipment designed for home brewers. Focus your cleaning and sanitizing on sulfiting bottles before billing and using brushes for cleaning air locks.

I recommend: Both Liquid Hobby and Northern Brewer sell wine bottle washing devices for use at home and by small wine making shops. They also carry a complete line of products used for washing and sanitizing wine bottles. Leeners makes a dual bottle blaster that you can connect to your sink.

Equip your staff with tools for cleaning wine bottles in your commercial wine cellar

Part of managing your restaurant's wine cellar is to keep your wine bottles free of dust. In addition, if you save your wine bottles, you'll need to dry them out so they can undergo cleaning and sanitation.

I recommend: Stop Them Grapes makes brushes for washing wine bottles that are empty and dusters for bottles sitting in the wine cellar. Rosehill Wine Cellars makes special cleaners and draining stems for decanters and wine bottles.

Invest in industrial size wine bottle washing equipment for large commercial wineries

Your production levels demand fully automated, high speed cleaning and rinsing machines.

I recommend: McBrady Engineering has a proven, 30-year track record in manufacturing cleaning equipment, including wine bottle washers. You can talk to a McBrady specialist for assistance with determining your cleaning and rinsing requirements. Fowler Products Company is a worldwide supplier of wine bottle washing equipment, including sterilization devices. Their wine bottle rinser/air blower remains a top seller.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Large-scale wineries will find it cost-effective to aim low at the initial stages of cleaning wine bottles. While you can purchase some of this equipment off the shelf, most of the equipment commercial wineries need must be custom made.

Whether you are a home hobbyist or the owner of a large winery, it's important to understand the key terms that are associated with the latest wine bottle washing equipment. Winemaking is a hobby and a profession that is popular around the world. From bottle blasters and bottle trees to cleaning solutions and metabisulfite, there are many key terms to learn in order to understand the bottle-washing process.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Bottle blaster

A bottle blaster is used to clean the inside of different-sized wine bottles. The bottle blaster attaches to a faucet and uses pressurized water to remove grime from even the hardest-to-reach places. (A jet carboy and bottle washer can also be used.)

I recommend: Blue Stem Winery offers information on what types of faucets are best.

Potassium metabisulfite

As a cleaning agent, metabisulfite is commonly mixed with water and used for cleaning wine bottles and wine bottle equipment. It is one of the best sanitizing agents in the winemaking industry.

I recommend: For information on exactly how to use potassium metabisulfite, visit the Cellar Homebrew.

Bottle tree

A bottle tree is an apparatus that is used to air-dry wine bottles after cleaning. Trees can come in a variety of sizes and shapes. They are more efficient, and they take up less square footage than most other drying methods.

I recommend: Brew Your Own has more information about bottle trees.

Bottle rinser

A bottle rinser is used to rinse wine bottles after cleaning. There are bottle rinsers for single bottles, and some even fit on top of bottle trees. For larger-scale wine operations, bottle rinsers can clean more than one bottle at a time.

I recommend: Check out E.C. Kraus for information about small bottle rinsers.

Wine bottle brush

For those hard-to-get corners and persistent sediments, most winemakers use a wine bottle brush. Brushes are usually nylon, and they come in a variety of sizes.

I recommend: Learn about wine bottle brushes at Alternative Beverage.

Commercial bottle washer

Commercial- and industrial-sized bottle washers are used to clean multiple bottles at a time. These large machines are perfect for big wineries, and they often dry the bottles as well.

I recommend: McBrady Engineering offers information on various bottle washers and rinsers of industrial size.