Wine Labels

I have not found a label that I like yet, but in getting ready for my next round of bottling, I have been recycling old bottles furiously. I have probably de-labled, cleaned and sanitized 10 dozen bottles in the last year.

What I found is that there really are very few bottles that cannot be delabeled. Since i am not saving the lables, This process works pretty well.

My Tools:

-A small paring knife.

-A dinner knife.

-small can of Goo-gone.

-elbow grease ;)

Step 1 Soak them in warm soapy water for about 3 - 4 days. Step 2 Use a kitchen knife to scrape the lable while holding the bottle under the stream of water. That gets 95% of the label off. Step 3 Then I use a scotch pad to remove the rest. (I do the scotch pad under that stream of luke warm water) Step 4 Use the paring knife to remove the plastic at the neck of the bottle.

For the REALLY stubborn labels, (The kind with gummy label backing) I keep a small can of "Goo-Gone" next to the sink, and shmear a bit of that on those bottles.

The bottom line is that I have yet to meet a bottle that i cannot strip. Clearly some are easier than others, but all can be tackled.

Good Luck

well, I'm probably over the top on wanting a nice label... marketing is everything, right? haha. I use Avery software and labels - I use Avery 6464 3 1/3" x 4" White removable ID labels. I can send you samples for the Avery software files (need to have Avery software installed to view) or I could make them into PDF for anyone to see. Once I design and print the labels, I use MATTE clear paint spray to make them water proof. Once dry, I apply. When done, the label just peels off. No tools, no left over residues. I stick bottle in dishwasher and it's ready for re-use.

DAve

Bruce wrote:

Thanks for the information Wayne. It's all about that darn elbow grease ;) The "Goo-Gone" is a good tip - again thanks.

Avery Labels are great for everything except reusable wine bottles...they're such a PITA to get off! Nowadays, I set up a label template using printshop pro, print on 32# resume stock, and cut & paste with a water soluable glue stick. A hot water soak in the sink does the trick; the label slides right off without need of sharp objects. I usually print too many labels, so I have "wine diary" extras immediately on hand circumventing the need to waterproof them. I'm more about the ease of reusing the bottle rather than having archivable labels, but having a print overrun of less than a page (6 labels) is fine by me. JMHO, regards, bob

Old credit cards or hotel room electronic keys wrap around the bottle so make great scrappers. Office Depot Avery label equivalents are half the price and work OK also. Both HP and Epson make waterproof ink. I prefer acetone to Goo Gone, it's cheap and flashes off; you still need to wash the bottle either way.

Joe

I've used Avery or the Staples equivalent labels for years and never had a problem getting them off; just a soak in warm, soapy water and they peel right off.

Paul

Labels are fun. I have as much fun making the labels as I do the wine. I just use MS Publisher and make four labels to a sheet. I have them printed at Staples using a color laser printer so the ink doesn't run if moisture condenses on the bottle. I apply the labels with a glue stick, and they're very easy to glue on and remove so you can re-use the bottle.

I decided on a theme for my wine, and name them all after Maine (I live in Maine.) animals: Morose Moose Merlot Red Fox Zinfandel Laughing Lobster Gewurztraminer Lonely Loon Pinot Grigio Black Bear Cabernet Plump Puffin Port Big Bad Beaver L:iebfraumilch Sea Urchin Chardonnay Prickly Porcupine Piesporter Wily Woodchuck Apple Desert Wine They all have pictures of the animals on the label except for Missing Lynx Valpolacella because it is, of course, missing.