Once the wine has been fermented, ridden of impurities, and stored for aging, it can be packaged for distribution. This process includes but is not limited to: bottle filling, corking, capsuling, labeling, and box filling (EMAF, wine supply chain). The table below shows this process in the supply chain model:
Vol.11-1-2010-Monday-Wood-Harper (pg. 19)
This work can again be outsourced to other companies, or done independently if the winery has the resources and labor to do so. Many decisions need to be made in this process. Some include: type of bottle, whether the bottle should be corked or have a skrew cap, labeling the seal, whether or not the bottle should have a label, and how the bottles should be packaged for transportation. These variables depend on the destination and future use of the wine.
Sealing a bottle of wine with a cork has always been the traditional method. However, corks have the tendency to spoil, giving off a moldy smell. One solution has been to use synthetic corks that resist spoilage, but these have complications as well; they can be difficult to uncork and reseal. Some countries, including Australia, have turned to skrew caps rather than corks because of the benefits they provide, such as no oxidation and an easier way to open and to reseal the bottle. However, this latter method has a social impact, especially in America. Consumers often believe that skrew capped bottles hold less value than those that are corked. Uncorking a bottle of wine has become an essential part of the drinking experience. More research is being conducted to support the use of skrew caps (Total Wine and More, Corks vs Srew Caps).
Not only can sealing type vary, but labeling and packaging can differ depending on the situation as well. If the wine is to be used in the winery that produced it, it may not need an advertising label on it. However, if the wine is to be sold internationally, it may need an eye-catching label (in which the language and images on the bottle may need to change). In addition, if the wine is to be transported locally, the bottles could be packaged in cartons, whereas if exporting, the bottles may need shipping boxes that are properly labeled for import into other countries.