Blog

While wine has been made for thousands of years, the use of yeast for fermentation is much more recent. Wine makers over time observed the fermentation process at work but did not know what caused it. It was not until the 1850s when French scientist Louis Pasteur discovered that microscopic yeast cells converted the sugars in the mixture into alcohol. Since then, wine making yeast has been used to improve the quality of many different wines. So, what are the benefits of using it and how can we best apply it when winemaking. Here is our guide. Why Use Wine Making Yeast? As wine was made without the addition of yeast for thousands of years, why is it used so commonly now? Firstly, wine making is much more prone to failure without the use of it. Throughout the years wine would be susceptible to bad batches that had mould or were cloudy and vinegary. The second reason is because the design of modern strains help get the most out of wine quality. However, not all winemakers use yeast, some still prefer to let their wine ferment naturally with wild, native yeasts. While this can result in good batches of wine, [...]

Bottle decoration has become a hugely popular craft in recent years. It's great for the environment, too, as it's created a new purpose for all those unwanted glass bottles. The concept of decorative wine bottles isn't new; we've been sticking seashells to bottle containers and turning them into lamps for donkey's years. But new ideas and materials have brought the craft glittering into the 21st century. At The Bottle Jar Store, we've been supplying glass containers for every purpose since 2011. Whether it's for: Simple storage Decorative art Storing food Creating candles Garden lights Bottle lamps Sand pictures Special occasions Drink containers. We've got a range of empty bottles at affordable prices for many different projects. Let's read further into other creative ideas on exciting things you can do with glass bottles. Light in a bottle What we used to call fairy lights have come a long way in recent times. New products like microwire string lights have opened up fresh opportunities for crafters. If you're planning to put lights inside your creations, clear glass bottles are ideal. Some old fashioned glitter and a string of microlights will turn a plain bottle into a thing of beauty. They make fantastic [...]

Whether you are starting a microbrewing business or just brewing for personal use, wine making is fairly easy to do. All you need is some wine making equipment, the right ingredients, a controlled environment, and plenty of time. Therefore, here is our step by step guide to making wine for beginners. Part One – What You Need In terms of ingredients, your list is very simple: Wine yeast Filtered water Granulated sugar A good supply of wine grapes When it comes to your wine making equipment, you should have the following on hand: A large bucket and lid to use for the main fermentation process. Three smaller glass containers to use as secondary fermentation vats. Three airlocks to act as fermentation traps. A rubber cork for use in the secondary fermentation vat. A large straining bag made of nylon mesh. A long length of clear plastic siphon tubing. About 20 wine bottles, five for each gallon of wine made. A funnel that can fit in the mouth of each bottle. Pre-sanitised corks for each bottle plus a hand corker. A fruit presser or crusher for your grapes. A hydrometer for checking sugar levels. Part Two – Fermenting the Wine Clean, [...]

Creating decorated wine bottles with lights inside might seem like a daunting task at first. Yet it is possible to create decorated bottles with lights inside at home without much trouble. All you need is some spare recyclable materials plus some wine bottles, and you can make an attractive gift item. Here is our guide to making decorated bottles with lights inside. How To Make Decorated Bottles With Lights Inside To create decorated bottles with lights inside, you will need the following: Empty wine bottles LED lights with cable Power drill with ceramic/glass cutting drill bits Battery pack Rubber grommets Bowl/glass of water Knife/scissors (optional) Glue Decorative items (stickers, glitter, etc.). You can follow these instructions to complete your desired lighting effect: First, slowly drill a 10 mm hole into your wine bottle without applying too much pressure. Pause every few seconds to cool the drill bit in the water. Once you have drilled a hole in the bottle, wash out any shards of glass under a tap. Insert a rubber grommet into the hole to prevent the glass from chafing the cable. Reshape the grommet with a knife or scissors if it is too thick. Then, use glue to [...]

How do you make a bottle lamp? It depends on the type of lamp you have in mind. One option is to insert a string of fairy lights to create an illuminated display. LED fairy lights can be purchased from a wide range of online outlets at an affordable price. Most are battery-operated and have an On/Off switch to enable the battery to last longer. The warm glow from the glass bottle offers a tranquil and vibrant atmosphere to any awaiting room. If you have an empty spirit, wine or beverage bottle? You can simply pop in the lights and turn them on. Some high-end spirit bottles can look beautiful and offer a different feel for each room. Coloured gin bottles will offer a different glow when compared to a flint vodka bottle. Things to consider for your next lighting project: The colour of the bottle Shape Size of the bottle The feel of the final light - vintage, classic, sophisticated, or clean effect The colour of the LED lights - warm, white or blue. Another is to cut the base off a bottle and place it over a candle. However, today we're going to concentrate on how to make [...]