Page 19 - GrapevineMarApr 2022

In The WineryIn The Winery

is controlled. Certain tanks can make wine smooth-
er, fuller or fruitier in taste.

A variety of materials are used for constructing
wine tanks, including steel, wood and concrete.
Porcelain, oak, clay/amphorae and plastic are other
tank materials used by wineries.

Pros & Cons of Stainless-steel Tanks

The type of tank chosen for your winery will
depend on the purpose, budget and availability.
For example, both general and multi-purpose tanks
are used to make wine. Meanwhile, wineries use
tanks for non-winemaking purposes, such as storing
water for irrigation, collecting wastewater gener-
ated from winemaking, collecting chemicals for
cleaning and having emergency water on hand for
potential wildfires.

Stainless steel tanks are cost-effective and last a
long time. They come in different shapes and don’t
add tannins or flavors, which is desirable for many
wines. However, lately, there has been more inter-
national demand for stainless steel bought in bulk,
making the costs higher than in the past.

Scott Dapelo, the sales manager for Quality
Stainless Tanks, told The Grapevine Magazine that
enclosed, top fermentation and storage tanks are
the most popular type that his company sells to
wineries.

“We make them in sizes from 500- to 50,000-gal-
lon capacities,” Dapelo said. “The most common Image Credit: Quality Stainless Tanks
are the 2,000- and 6,500-gallon versions.”

Based in Windsor, California, Quality Stainless and FCPT. These are pre-configured variable capac-
Tanks provides custom-designed and ready-made ity tanks that come standard with welded legs, a
tanks for wine, beer, spirits and special applica- sample valve, drain and racking ports and a com-
tions. The company hand-crafts its products in plete floating lid kit.
Northern California’s wine country and has the
wine industry’s largest line of in-stock fermentation “FVPP tanks have flat bottoms with sump and
and storage tanks. accommodate volumes of 230 to 1,500 liters, or
60 to 396 gallons,” Roussel said. “FCPT tanks come
“The sanitation aspects of stainless is a great with dish bottoms and accommodate volumes
advantage, as is its unparalleled longevity when of 2,000 to16,000 liters or 528 to 4,226 gallons.
compared to wood, plastic or concrete vessels,” Additionally, FCPT vessels come standard with a
Dapelo said. man-way door, 360-degree cooling jacket, ther-
mometer and pulley arm. These versatile lines offer
Julien Roussel from Algor, a stainless steel tank aseptic environments and can be used for vinifica-
producer in Italy, told The Grapevine Magazine that tion and storage. Moreover, our customers value
his company’s most popular models are the FVPP the fact that all the accessories are manufactured

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