METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BEVERAGE TRANSFER FROM SOURCE TO DESTINATION CONTAINER

A system and method for transferring beverage such as wine from a source container (10) to a destination container (20). First and second transfer heads (1, 2) can be configured to sealingly engage with an opening of source and destination containers (10, 20), respectively. The container opening(s) can have a closure (15) (such as a cork or septum and the transfer heads (1, 2) can sealingly engage with the container opening without removing the closure (15), e.g., by passing one or more needles (11, 12) through the closure. The transfer heads (1, 2) and the source container (10) can be held by a support (7), and the first transfer head (1) can be mounted for pivotal movement relative to the support (7), e.g., about a horizontal axis, to accommodate differently sized and/or shaped containers. Pressurized gas, e.g., used to purge and/or pressurize the containers (10, 20), and beverage flow can be routed from one of the transfer heads to the other.