After ageing in stainless steel tanks, barrels, etc., the wine is bottled. Legal requirements must be fulfilled in good time before this, i.e. submission for the official test number (Germany) or state test number (Austria). From this point on, various changes may no longer be made. The wine must be chemically and physically stable, which is achieved by various measures (see also under Beautification). Sulphurisation is carried out for a long time before bottling to prevent oxidation in the bottle. To check the protein stability, a sample is heated to over 70 °Celsius for two to three hours and then checked for protein turbidity. Tartaric instability is achieved by adding metatartaric acid.
Filling system GAI
The picture shows a compact filling system from the Italian bottling plant manufacturer GAI. It consists of the components bottle ejector, deaeration station, drop pressure filler, gas injector and closing station (optionally for corks or screw caps) with an output of up to 2,400 bottles per hour (per bottle 1.5 seconds). The video (click to view) shows the filling line of the Austrian winery Scheiblhofer (Andau, wine-growing region Neusiedlersee in Burgenland) from bottling to labelling and packaging in cartons. At the bottom you can see the filling line of the Agricultural College Krems for viticulture and fruit growing in Lower Austria
Choice of the closure system
For used bottles, thorough cleaning, disinfection and sterilization is an absolute prerequisite against harmful microorganisms such as Acetobacter (acetic acid bacteria), yeasts or molds. Ozone, peroxyacetic acid, sulphur dioxide or hydrogen peroxide are used for...
