Dusty wine bottles

[zofina]

Hi all,

 

I'm doing a theatre show and I need to find out how to make a bottle of wine dusty as if it's been in a cellar for years. The bottle must then be opened and poured so the dust should come off if possible. I COULD set aside four bottle of wine now, as the show isn't until September, but does anyone have any more instant ideas?

 

Thanks.

[boswell]

Lightly dampen the bottle with water and sprinkle with talc, leave to dry. then gently tap the bottle to shake excess off.

[Ynot]

Lightly dampen the bottle with water and sprinkle with talc, leave to dry. then gently tap the bottle to shake excess off.

I'll go a bit further on that idea - never done it either way BUT this strikes me as a possibly better way of acheiving the effect.

Just damping the bottle with water may not work well, as of course water will run off the glass, clinging only in patches.

 

So how about putting said bottle in the freezer for a short while til you get a coating of 'chilled' condensation' - this strikes me as feasible (having chilled bottles of whicky/vodka in the freezer before now :P).

That way when you sprinkle the talc you may get a better and more even coverage.

 

I have no idea whether this will work but it does strike me as a logical extension of what sounds like a fairly good idea.

 

Let us know how you get on.

[Jemma]

Similar kind of idea as above, but I'd use spraymount and fuller's earth. Bit browner (dustier colour) than talc & should stay on a bit better than with water.

[andy_s]

or alternatively walnut dust - an ecological and safe alternative to Fullers Earth for aging and dusting down.

personally I wouldn't use water or talc.

[adam2]

Fake cobwebs in an spray can are readily available and can give the desired effect, or fake snow from a spray can if used very spareingly can look like dust.

[mrs_mop]

dry shampoo spray works well, and would wipe off easily , if that was part of the action.

[wellpleased]

Have you thought about actually going into a wine shop and asking if they have any old ones in the cellar? If it isn't a particular wine it has to be then you might be able to actually just buy one from somewhere that it has already began to get dusty.

I would also be careful putting wine bottles in the freezer as it could smash open. Hope this helps!

[andy_s]

now if it's really dusty bottles you need, may I suggest a trip to Alnwick in the county of Northumberland. There you will find a pub known universally as The Dirty Bottles. I can't remember its real name, but it's in Narrowgate.

 

In the window you will see a display of really really dusty bottles, supposedly untouched for hundreds of years. If you can persuade the landlord to loan you one of these, then your problems are over......

 

 

 

 

except for one small point: according to legend, anyone who disturbs the display will meet a swift and sticky end.....