Of wine bottles, corks and openers...

To contact us Click HERE

WINE Q’s & A’s

Q: What are the different types of wine bottles? A:  Standard bottle types are Bordeaux (typically dark green, high shoulder)and Burgundy (typically medium green or gold, sloped shoulder.  Some wineries offer specialty bottles whichare often very attractive and interesting.  
      Wine bottle bottoms are either flat orpunted.  Originally, the depth of thepunt of the bottle bottom was intended to collect the natural sediment, so thewine could be decanted with the sediment easily left behind.  As an example, a rich red wine would have thedeepest punt because it would be expected to collect the greatest amount ofsediment on the bottom. 
      Standard bottle sizes are 750ml, and375ml, for dessert style wines. Pleasant Valley Winery is the only winery inArizona producing 147ml single-serving bottles.
Q: I see that a number of prominent wineries are using other than realcorks.  Why?  A:  There are threetypes of wine closures; real cork, synthetic, and screw cap. 
      Traditionally genuine corks were used toseal wine bottles.  This has changed inpart due to the shortage and increased price of real cork.  Synthetic corks have an advantage overgenuine corks because with them, there is no longer a need to store winebottles on their sides in order to keep the cork wet.  The disadvantage is that a synthetic cork canbe difficult to reinsert into a partially used bottle.  They either have to be carved down, or replacedwith a wine bottle closure. 
      Screw caps are fast coming onto the winemarketplace.  Many major wineries are nowusing screw caps, believing that these do a better job of keeping wine bottlesair tight, thereby giving their products longer shelf life..
Q:  What is thebest type of wine opener?A:  There are anumber of different designs for tools used to uncork the wine.  The best examples of manual openersare the worm wine opener, wings wine opener, lever wine opener, and prongedwine opener.  We like a solid brass wingswine opener; when you screw into the cork, the wings go up, and then you pulldown on both sides to lift out the cork. The style of tool that works best for you is naturally a matter ofpersonal choice.
AlwaysRemember, Wine is Fun We would love to hear from you.  Please submit your questions or comments to:  PVWinery@wildblue.net