Those of us who grew up with a wine bota at home—whether it belonged to our father or one of our grandparents—remember the affection and care it received. In many cases, the same Spanish wine skin accompanied us throughout our entire childhood. In fact, we have heard of wine botas that last for decades.
So, how should we take care of ours to enjoy it for as long as possible?
To answer this question, we first need to distinguish between the two types of inner linings mentioned in our previous post, keeping in mind that external care is the same for all goat leather wine botas.
External Care of a Wine Bota
If your wine bota is a Classic or Suprema model, it is made from naturally tanned goat leather. This tanning process has been used for thousands of years and relies on mimosa tannins, without chemical treatments.
We recommend moisturizing the leather using a completely natural fat, avoiding chemical products that could damage the skin. Our most common recommendation is to use the inside of a banana peel, as it both hydrates the leather and creates a protective outer layer against dirt and environmental elements.
The frequency of this treatment depends on external factors such as temperature, humidity, and usage. The bota itself will tell you when it needs hydration—the leather will look and feel drier.
Caring for a Wine Bota with a Latex Lining
A latex-lined wine bota requires very little maintenance beyond regular cleaning to prevent dirt buildup.
If you are not going to use the bota for more than a month, we recommend:
- Cleaning it thoroughly
- Storing it in a cool, dry place
- Leaving a small amount of air inside, like a “soft cushion”
This air is important because we have seen cases where water evaporation caused the inner walls to stick together, creating a small hole when the bota was later inflated again.
Caring for a Traditional Pitch-Lined Wine Bota (Pez)
The main component of pez (pitch) is pine resin, which means it behaves much like natural tree resin. This leads to the most important characteristic of a pitch-lined wine bota:
👉 The more you use it, the longer it lasts.
Pitch tends to “slide” inside the bota. If it remains unused for long periods, some areas may lose their waterproof coating.
Another potential issue occurs if the inner walls stick together. If you try to separate them without warming the bota first, you risk causing an irreparable tear.
Key Care Tips for Pitch-Lined Wine Botas
- Always store the bota with wine inside, never water.
You can rinse it with water as often as needed, but spoiled wine is much easier to fix than stagnant water. - If unused for more than 1.5–2 months:
Empty the bota, let the interior dry, and store it with the walls stuck together and a piece of paper in the spout. When using it again, gently warm it to separate the walls, as explained in the instructions. - Never leave the bota empty and inflated for more than 5–6 days.
The pitch may shift, creating leaks. - Even when filled with wine, do not leave it in the same position for too long.
Change its position every 15–20 days so the pitch doesn’t settle in one area. If used regularly, daily movement is sufficient. - A wine bota is not a bottle.
Especially with straight models, do not store it upright resting on its base. This puts stress on the stitching and may cause leaks. Always store it lying down or hanging by the strap. - Never put the bota in the refrigerator.
Pitch is sensitive to temperature changes and the bota would deteriorate quickly.
If we had to choose the single most important tip, it would be this:
The more frequently you use your pitch-lined wine bota, the longer it will last.
What harms it the most is staying unused.
Conclusion
The wine bota is a product with a long history, handcrafted using traditional techniques. Originally, it was designed for daily use, and it performs best when used that way.
The main issue today with pitch-lined botas is that they are no longer used every day (which wouldn’t be advisable nowadays), so they require a bit more care than in the past.
On the other hand, latex-lined wine botas are perfect if you want a worry-free option. However, they are less traditional and leave less character in the wine compared to pitch-lined botas.
Each person must choose the model that suits them best—always keeping in mind the specific care each type requires.