Selfsufficientish.com

I think I may have found the answer to your problems - no bottles or labels required!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiu_IX14wLI

I suppose I should say why I use lighter fluid... it was an old trick from the days of PC floppy disks (rememberthem?). To get the labels off nicely you smeared lighter fluid on the label AND LET IT DRY. (I guess it soaked thru the paper into the glue). This worked every time for floppy disk labels coz they were all more or less the same. Wine labels aren't - they can use very different papers and glues. But it sometimes works.

Seems the best methods for removal have already been posted but this might help you short-cut to success depending on label and adhesive type. Before attempting to remove the label gently try to lift it at one corner.
If it the adhesive feels hard and brittle and is laid in lines then it’s water based. Water based adhesive is removed by soaking in warm water.
If the adhesive feels soft and sticky then it’s spirit (or latex) based. The two grades of spirit based adhesive you’re likely to encounter are permanent and extra permanent. In both instances fill the bottle with very hot water (refill a couple of times to reach a good temperature without splitting the bottle). Let it stand for five minutes then gently peel away the label. Any remnants can be soaked with white spirit.
If it won’t peel then it’s extra permanent. Soak the label with white spirit (it doesn’t evaporate like lighter fluid). Keep it soaked for ten minutes or more before attempting to peel.

The labels themselves can also present problems. The label front may be sealed with varnish or plastic film laminate. Both will prevent water or spirit soaking through to the adhesive. Film laminate can be peeled or picked off but varnish can only really be broken through with mechanical methods (e.g. tater peeler).
Hope this helps.

Got a reply from Sheppy's

"You are quite right about the labels. We recently changed our old wet glue labelling machine for a new self adhesive labeller. This produces a better finish, but the labels certainly won't come off.

I am fairly fanatical about the avoidance of waste around here, to which all my colleagues will testify, so I certainly don't think you are bonkers; I think it's excellent. However, unfortunately, you really aren't going to be able to use our bottles for your beer unless you put up with the labels, and I am really sorry about that.

Kind regards.

Louisa Sheppy"

What I use for removing stubborn labels is WD40...a good soaking first in warm water to start things off so to speak and then once the majority of the label is no longer attached to said bottle, give it a blast of WD40, "work" it into the label-bits and off it comes. Some of the little blighters do need to be coaxed a bit, but it does work. There's nothing sinister in the stuff, just pongs a bit!

Only had one failure and in the end, the bottle - with label still attached - went into the recycling bin...in a million pieces . The label won the battle but I won the war!

Nana Caz

Peel off the labels, the heat in microwave, glue/stickiness will then rub off

Mother - I don't think you have encountered the "bastard" labels referred to earlier in the thread.... although microwaving is a new angle !