Q&A for How to Reuse Screw Top Wine Bottles for Making Wine

Lay on the side to see if caps are leaking. Leave for at least three days and replace any cap that you notice leaking.

It should, but don't force it, or you could damage the bottle's neck. You can always taper a cork to get a better fit by sanding down one end of a dry cork before soaking.

Get a new cap or invest in some bottles designed for corks. The bottles are relatively cheap. Do not reuse the corks after you finish that bottle; there is no need, as for you can get them in bulk cheaply. Just try not to get corks with ink designs as for when you rack they may seep into your drink and spoil the flavours.

Clean the threads to ensure both the bottle and cap are free of debris. Replace old liners inside the cap with new plastic or rubber liners. Tighten the cap firmly, but not overly tight, to avoid damaging the threads.

Yes, you can use household bleach to sterilize bottles. Mix about 1 tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water, then rinse the bottles thoroughly. After rinsing, you can dry them in the oven at a low temperature (around 200°F / 93°C) to be sure they are completely dry and sterile.

For reused screw-top bottles, it's best to store the wine for 6 months to a year before drinking. After that, the quality can start to decline, especially for longer aging. If you plan to age wine, consider using proper aging bottles with corks.

Yes, manufacturers produce plastic screw caps designed for used screw-top wine bottles. These caps are typically made from food-grade plastic and are compatible with standard screw-top bottles. For example, nicebottles offer 750ml plastic wine bottles with screw caps, which can be used for bottling homemade wine or other beverages.