I've been homebrewing for a while, and I'm thinking about making some wine. But before I purchase the equpment, I have a question about corks. I had planned on purchasing sythetic corks so I wouldn't have to worry about them rotting, or rotatiting the bottles (which is going to be a problem since I'm going to be storing the wine in a friend's basement and not my own house), but morebeer's catalogue says I can't use synthetic corks with a hand corker--only a floor corker. Do I have any other options? Are there other synthetics out there I can use with a hand corker? Are natural corks as much of a pain in the neck as I think they are, or will they be fine? (I was also heard that crown capping is fine, but I don't think I can use crown caps on wine bottles)

Hi Brian, Welcome to the club. If you r going through the process to get the equipment,(some u probably have from brewing) get a floor corker. usually u can get a 10/15 dollar rebate if u by the starter kit and add the floor corker. I have bottles in the racks that r over 4 years old and no rotted corks. You don't have to rotate the bottles. If there is any sediment in the wine you want it to stick to the side of the bottle. Not usually a problem with reds but not pretty in a clear bottle. Rack a few more times that u think necessary or run it through a #2 filter. I don't use synthetics because I but real corks in bulk and haven't had a problem yet..Just got back on-line..Sorry no one answered u sooner..!!Tom..

Brian,
While you can drive synthetic corks with a floor corker, they really should not be used. Synthetic corks seal so tightly that you end up with compressed air in the bottle. They should be used only with a vacuum corker, at least that is what a couple of the manufacturers have told us. Composite corks work fine. They are the ones with a cork disk on each end and agglomerated cork in the middle. Even then, they seal so tightly that it is a good idea to let them outgas for a week or so before you lay your bottles down.

If you are bottling more than a few bottles, you'll find that a floor corker is vastly superior to any of the hand models.

Have a happy thanksgiving.