Page 8 - Grapevine May-June 2020

In The Winery

Major Tank Considerations always want to have options.”

One of the most important things to plan for as a For wineries of various sizes, Roberts said R&S
winery is the overall tank capacity. Closed top and Supply Company supplies 275-gallon and 330-gal-
variable capacity tanks are available, ranging in size lon brand-new IBC totes that are ideal for shipping
from 396 to 2,641 gallons. However, depending wine and also for short term storage.
upon the winery’s specific needs, vintners might
choose a tank that is as small as 250 gallons or as “They are stackable up to three high when full,”
large as 8,000 gallons. As a general rule, fermen- he said. “We sell these totes to all sizes of wineries
tation tanks tend to be between 450 and 2,500 all over the country.”
gallons, while storage tanks are more likely to be in
the 250 to 1,000-gallon range. Differences in Winery Tanks

Another primary consideration is the cost of tanks. Although winery tanks may look similar at first
Depending on the brand and style, a 2,500-gallon glance, there are differences between the various
stainless steel fermentation tank can be as high as models and brands. Some tanks are better at con-
$9,000, while storage tanks tend to be less expen- trolling temperature, while others have better oxy-
sive, around $3,000 to $4,000 for 1,000 gallons gen level regulation. Tanks may impact tannins and
of storage. When calculating costs, winemakers flavor as well. In the end, what it comes down to, is
should factor in the pricing for bins, tank stands what type of wine the tanks will be holding.
and tank washers for fermentation and storage.
Some wineries make the mistake of not considering “I would say 50% of our tanks have manways on
the costs of tank accessories and end up going well the lowest point of the tank so that we can use
over budget. them for the fermentation of red must along with
a side door that can be opened to help retrieve the
“In our purchasing process of the tanks, we fermented must out,” Vienneau said. “White wine
want to make sure the quality is at its finest,” said can be fermented in any kind of stainless-steel tank
Vienneau or Arrington Vineyards. “This includes that has a closed top and a cooling jacket.”
everything from how smooth all the welds are to
making sure the racking valves are positioned cor- Comparing Winery Tank Options
rectly for racking purposes and making sure you
have manways large enough to slide in and out.” In addition to the type of wine held within a tank,
Tanks based on winery size when comparing tanks for the winery, consider
whether it will be used indoors or outdoors, and
The size of a winery often determines the types of how easy or difficult it will be to keep clean and
tanks it buys, but this isn’t always true. Small winer- sanitized on an ongoing basis.
ies may choose small-batch processing tanks of 180
to 2,000 gallons, along with portable tanks that can “The type of tank you choose will depend typically
be moved by forklifts or pallet jacks to overcome on application and budget,” said Roberts of R&S
space restrictions. Supply Company. “The IBC Totes we sell are a very
economical solution for short-term storage and for
Medium-sized wineries may buy larger tanks than transporting finished wine or juice from one loca-
they currently need to allow room for growth. For tion to another.”
large wineries, bigger isn’t necessarily better, espe-
cially when producing several varieties of wine. How to Choose the
Vienneau said Arrington’s tanks range anywhere Best Tanks for Your Winery
from 270 to 3,750 gallons. “Having many different
size tanks is key in a winery,” he said. “Headspace One effective way to learn about the best tank
in a wine tank can be detrimental to the wine. You options is to ask other wineries what they use and

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