PBS When to bottle your wine blog - tops of 5 different colored wine bottles with hoods

How to Know When Your Wine Is Ready for Bottling

Written by Andy Denton on October 30, 2024

One of the most rewarding steps in winemaking is reaching that moment when your wine is finally ready to be bottled. But how can you be sure it’s time? It’s a question that we are asked often.

Bottling too early can lead to unfinished flavors, while waiting too long might risk oxidation. Here’s a guide to help you determine when your wine has reached peak readiness.

1. Tasting and Aroma Development

Regular tasting throughout the aging process gives you a direct line to your wine’s development. Pay attention to both flavor balance and aroma—if the wine tastes smooth, complex, and well-rounded, this is a good sign it’s close to being ready.

You’re looking for harmony, where no single element (like tannins or acidity) overwhelms the others. We have been told that before the invention of many instruments to measure acidity or anything else, THIS is what makes a winemaker, a winemaker.

Bottling your wine blog for PBS - red wine in a glass with red grapes and a bottle on top of the grapes and wicker basket

2. Clarity and Stability

Two essential factors to check off before bottling are clarity and stability:

Clarity: Any cloudiness or haze means your wine may still have particulates that need to settle or be filtered out. Clear, transparent wine typically signals that it’s ready.
Stability: Stabilizing the wine prevents unwanted fermentation from restarting in the bottle. Testing for pH and acidity levels to ensure they’re within a stable range is essential for a wine that will age well in the bottle. (If you aren’t certain on how to check the ph and/or acidity of your wine then contact the shop and we can walk you through this process.)

3. Final Adjustments and Sulfite Levels

The bottling stage is the perfect time for any last tweaks. Assess if the wine needs slight adjustments to its acidity or sweetness for an ideal flavor profile. Also, check the sulfite levels to make sure there’s adequate protection against oxidation and bacteria. This small but crucial step helps preserve the wine’s quality and shelf life.

4. Managing Gas Levels

Nothing ruins a great wine like unexpected bubbles in a still bottle. Degassing the wine removes any residual CO₂ that may cause fizziness or even pop a cork unexpectedly. When making still wine, make sure it’s properly degassed so your bottles remain stable.

Do we use a drill attachment to degas our wine? Yes, yes we do. Want to know how? Come by the shop and we can share the different ways we degas our wine.

PBS bottling your wine blog - a collection of bottles with unmarked wine on a wood table background

5. Testing and Trial Bottles

If you’re uncertain, consider a test bottling of a few bottles to see how the wine holds up over a short period. This can give you insights into any last adjustments needed before the entire batch is bottled.

Bottling Preparation Tips

Once you’re confident your wine is ready for bottling, don’t overlook the essentials of preparation:

Sanitize all bottles and equipment: This prevents contamination, preserving the quality of your wine.
Set up in a clean, dust-free area to avoid any impurities.
Make sure your labels and packaging are ready so you can store your bottles right after bottling.

The Bottom Line

Determining when your wine is ready for bottling is all about experience and a careful eye for detail. Trust your palate, check your clarity and stability, and follow these steps to ensure every bottle captures the best of your hard work.

Happy bottling!

Cheers,
The PBS Crew