Dan:
The short answer is NO!!!! And as a result, I have stopped removing commercial labels in quanbreasty. If I need a bunch of bottles, I buy them new. That way they are all the same, and only cost about $1 (Canadian). I figure it's more than a $1 of my time collecting, cleaning, scraping, etc. I could have picked up about 20 bottles at a recycling depot a couple of days ago. I took a quick look, and left them for somebody else.
Some labels come off very easily. If you find one of these wineries, please let us know, and be specific to variety and year, because labels change.
Some of the plastic labels (eg Arbor Mist) come off quite easily. Use a razor blade or similar to peel up one corner, and the label usually peels off.
Reducing acid one year old wine 405Fishhead - Fining generally doesn't alter the acidity. There are some chemicals you can use (usually potbuttium or calcium carbonate are recommended) but they do also alter...
Otherwise, you need a selection of tools that includes razor blade scrapers (yes that produced the scar on my finger), steel wool, scrubbies, various cleaners-chemicals, etc etc.
The residual glue on the bottle can be removed with many things, eg WD-40, Goo-B-Gone (and similar), or vegetable oils. But my fave is peanut butter. Press the peanut butter into the glue, leave for a couple of hours (overnight works for me), then remove with a nail brush.
Steve
