An elegant bottle of wine is not just about the right shape and cork, but also about an aesthetic finishing touch around the neck. Shrink caps are among the most popular bottle closures, combining aesthetics and functionality — a simple yet professional way to give wine a final polish. They are used both by home enthusiasts and large bottling plants.
In this article we will show how to apply shrink caps on two levels:
- in home settings and small vineyards,
- in professional, large-scale bottling facilities and wineries.
This way, regardless of production scale, you will learn how to match the method to your needs.
Why are shrink caps important?
Aesthetics and branding
Caps give wine an elegant appearance, which increases its perceived value. In production facilities, caps are often personalized — with logo, brand name, or special design.
Cork protection
The cork remains sealed and protected from mechanical damage, dust and insects.
Tamper evidence
The cap serves as a “tamper-evident” seal — once broken, it is visible that the bottle has been opened.
Hygiene
In large bottling plants, caps are part of the food safety system — protecting the cork from external elements during transport and storage.
How to apply shrink caps at home and in small wineries
Home winemakers and small workshops use simple, economical methods. They all involve heating the cap so that it conforms to the bottle’s neck.
- Boiling water
- Place the cap on the corked bottle.
- Dip the neck into boiling water for a few seconds.
- Remove and let the bottle stand upright to cool.
- Advantages: simple, low cost.
- Disadvantages: risk of glass cracking if temperature difference is too high.
- Steam
- Use a kettle or steamer.
- Hold the neck with the cap above the steam for 3–5 seconds.
- Rotate the bottle to shrink the cap evenly.
- Advantages: even fit, lower risk of glass damage.
- Disadvantages: lower efficiency when dealing with many bottles.
- Heat gun (hot air blower)
- Place the cap and heat from bottom to top.
- Rotate the bottle in hand at about 10–15 cm from the hot air stream.
- Advantages: fast and precise fit.
- Disadvantages: takes some skill to avoid burning the cap.
- Hair dryer
- Emergency method — works only with strong dryers.
- Advantages: available in any home.
- Disadvantages: weaker effect, longer shrink time.
- Semi-automatic devices
- For small wineries there are compact shrink-cap applicators. They operate with hot air or steam and allow you to obtain a professional result in a few seconds.
- Advantages: speed, repeatability.
- Disadvantages: higher purchase cost.
Professional technology in large production plants
In industrial alcohol/wine bottling plants the shrink cap application process is fully automated. This allows for very high output — from a few to several tens of thousands of bottles per hour.
- Automatic bottling lines
After corking, bottles are conveyed by conveyor belts to the capping section. There, a special feeder places the shrink cap on the neck. The process is synchronized with the filling and corking speed. - Hot-air tunnels
The most popular industrial solution. Bottles pass through a tunnel equipped with nozzles that direct hot air onto the cap.- Typical parameters: temperature 180-220 °C, shrink time 1-2 seconds, output of several thousand bottles/hour.
- Steam tunnels
Used in plants preferring more gentle shrinking. Steam is distributed in specialized chambers, providing an ideally even effect.- Advantages: no risk of burning, perfect fit.
- Disadvantages: higher operational costs.
- Semi-automatic machines
Medium-sized wineries and plants often use semi-automatic devices where an operator manually places the cap, and a machine shrinks it using hot air or steam. This is a compromise between home-scale and fully automated lines. - Quality control
Modern plants are equipped with vision systems. Cameras inspect whether caps are:- properly shrunk,
- free of wrinkles and creases,
- symmetrically positioned relative to the neck.
Bottles with defects are automatically rejected from the line.
- Cap personalization
In industrial production, caps also become marketing and security media. They can be customized via:- logo printing,
- perforations to aid opening,
- holograms or elements preventing counterfeiting.
Comparison of Methods — Hobbyists vs Industry
| Criterion | Hobbyists / Small Wineries | Large Production Plants |
|---|---|---|
| Methods | boiling water, steam, heat gun, small devices | hot air tunnels, steam tunnels, automatic lines |
| Output | 10-30 bottles/hour | 3 000-6 000 bottles/hour |
| Aesthetic quality | acceptable, dependent on skill | perfect and consistent |
| Equipment cost | low — household tools | high — industrial lines |
| Safety | risk of burns or glass damage | full automation and health & safety standards |
Common Mistakes
- Too high temperature — caps may melt or burn.
- Cooling too quickly — can force the cork upward.
- Uneven heating — caps become wrinkled.
- Lack of quality control — in industrial settings this can result in loss of whole batches.
Practical Tips
- At home, always test the method on a single bottle first.
- Use protective accessories (gloves, tongs) when working with boiling water or a heat gun.
- In medium-scale wineries it’s worth investing in semi-automatic shrink cap applicators — they ensure repeatable results.
- Large production plants should use vision inspection systems — this helps avoid losses.
Shrink caps are a small element that makes a big difference — whether for a hobbyist bottling wine in a garage or a large plant producing thousands of bottles daily.
Hobbyists can choose simple and inexpensive methods: boiling water, steam, heat gun or hair dryer.
Professionals use advanced technologies: hot-air tunnels, steam tunnels, and automatic lines.
In every case, the most important things are safety, aesthetics, and matching the method to the scale of production.
Shrink caps from B-G are not only an aesthetic finish for bottles, but also protect the cork and ensure hygiene.
✔ Easy to use — both for hobbyists and professional bottlers
✔ Available in various colors and sizes
✔ Customizable for your brand
Check out our selection and choose caps that will highlight the unique character of your wine!
FAQ
Do shrink caps protect wine from spoilage?
Their main role is aesthetics and cork protection, but indirectly they help with storage hygiene.
Which method is best at home?
The best compromise is a heat gun — fast, safe, and repeatable.
Are caps suitable for sparkling wines?
Yes, provided the correct size and reinforced foil are used.
Does industry use different materials than hobbyists?
Commonly, PVC or PET are used. In industry, perforated and printed caps are popular.