Headspace Calculator for Bottling Operations
Most bottle manufacturers will provide a drawing showing suggested fill heights. In addition to this information, it is important to consider wine temperature at bottling.
The Calculator for Bottling Operation provides recommendations for ullage volume, internal bottle pressure, and fill height based on bottling temperature and cork length.
The calculator assumes a standard bottle shape, and wineries are encouraged to confirm fill heights by measuring the volume between the bottom of the cork and the expected fill height level. An easy way to do so is: (1) mark the bottle where the bottom of the cork will appear, (2) fill the bottle to that mark with water, (3) using a graduated pipette, remove the volume of water corresponding to the ullage calculator, (4) mark the bottle at the top of the remaining liquid. That is the recommended fill height.
