Sizing Closures for Sparkling Wine
Last updated:Â 10/2021
Applies to:Â Sparkling winemakers looking to size corks, wirehoods, and crown caps.
When your consumers pop a bottle of bubbly, doing so with high quality closures makes all the difference in the world. When it comes to choosing the right closures, there are many options and a few key factors to consider. Here we break them down for you to help ensure you make the right decision:
Corks and Wirehoods
Corks
In the diagram on the below left, the highlighted number represents the internal diameter at the top of the bottle (17.5 mm). Relvas standard 30x47 mm sparkling wine corks are designed to work with bottle ID’s anywhere between 16.5 mm and 17.5 mm. 17.5 mm is standard for a domestic sparkling wine bottle (Figure 1). French sparkling wine bottles are typically around 16.5 mm (Figure 2).
Wirehoods
The most important thing to remember about wirehoods is that the size of wirehood you purchase depends on the size of your cork, not on the size of the bottle. This is a common misconception and something that can yield problematic results down the road. It is also important to make sure the belt of the wirehood sits just under the take-up ring when applying cork and wirehood.
Other Considerations
Pressure:
Traditional sparkling wine hovers around 6 bars of pressure but some are less. When choosing a traditional sparkling wine cork and wirehood as final closures, the pressure inside the bottle will be a key factor in determining the size of the cork.
Cork grades:
Scott Labs carries Relvas sparkling wine corks in multiple grades including 2F (middle grade) and 2S (higher grade). Lesser grades tend to have more visible imperfections, but it’s important to consider the retail price of your wine when choosing a grade.
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