Page 25 - Grapevine July-Aug 2020
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In The Winery
Labels are applied using Impresstik Vacuum belt our machinery tolerances at original factory spec-
labelers, so the winery must have the labels pre- ifications. Our trucks and systems are continually
pared to the correct specifications. Once the wine updated and serviced, virtually eliminating the
is bottled, sealed and labeled, the bottles make a chance of breakdowns during the critical timeframe
U-turn and are conveyed back alongside the trailer of bottling. On top of that, our technicians are on
wall to be packed and sent out ready to ship. the job every day, bottling wine under every type
of condition and specification, rather than being
“We bottle everything at roughly 60 bottles per a general employee that is expected to also run
minute, which gives us 1,800–2,000 cases per day,” a bottling system for a few days out of the year.
said Scholz. “We’ve found that’s a good rate, both They’ve seen most issues and know how to react
for bottling and the human side of the process. on the spot.”
Additionally, changeovers between varietals can
take place more quickly at this speed, averaging “We’ve been doing this for 31 years, so I’d like to
about 15 to 20 minutes per changeover versus an think we’ve learned some things,” said Scholz.
hour on higher speed lines. We do have a high-
speed truck available if someone needs faster Mobile Bottlers Become
speeds, but the 60 bpm rate is a reasonable daily Partners in the Winemaking Process
output and seems to work best for our customers.”
Brandon Dixon is the general manager and execu-
Scholz told The Grapevine Magazine that with tive winemaker for Noboleis Vineyards in Augusta,
15 mobile bottling trucks on the road, Signature Missouri. Noboleis Vineyards has successfully used
Mobile Bottlers have the largest fleet in the busi- mobile bottling services since 2011.
ness. “We use our bottling trucks nearly every
day. Every harvest, our trucks are torn down to “We’ve been with Old Woolam Custom Bottling
replace normal wear parts and be put through a since the company’s inception,” said Dixon. “The
comprehensive maintenance program that keeps mobile bottling service that Old Woolam provides
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