Remove the paper wine bottle label. There are various products available to help remove paper labels. If you don't have one available, try soaking the bottle in water and then using a hair dryer to loosen the label.
Clean and dry the bottle. Make sure that both inside and outside the bottle have been completely cleaned of any contaminants. Once clean, dry the bottle inside and out. Moisture will cause the bottle to crack during the melting process.
Spray devit spray on the outside the bottle to prevent devitrification. Devitrification causes a white scum to form on the glass during the melting process; it may also cause wrinkles or crazing of the glass.
Add copper wire just inside the bottle top. Make a U-bend in the copper wire and allow a loop to stick out of the bottle. A copper wire loop is purely optional, but handy if you want to use the bottle as a wind chime or other hanging decoration.
Lay the bottle on its side in the kiln. Fire the kiln to reach a temperature of 1100 degrees Fahrenheit gradually. Do not allow more than a 600-degree temperature increase per hour. Once the kiln reaches 1100 degrees, allow the heat to soak the bottle for 10 minutes.
Add an additional 300 degrees over the next hour and soak again for another 30 minutes. This will rid the glass of any air bubbles.
Heat the kiln as fast as possible to 1425 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the temperature range that will melt the glass. Keep a close eye on the bottle. It can take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes to get the look you desire.
Flash vent the kiln by opening everything up to the outside air until you reach a temperature of 1000 degrees. Hold for 10 minutes, then gradually cool at 180 degrees per hour until you reach 800 degrees.
Turn off the kiln and allow it to cool to room temperature naturally. Do not keep the kiln opened up, the glass needs time to gradually cool for this final process. Once room temperature is reached, your bottle is ready.