Page 32 - Grapevine July-August 2019

In The Winery

of the entire line and when it’s necessary to change
the wine or bottle height. Additionally, each change
can reduce daily production by about 75 cases.

Old Woolam Custom Bottling estimated that a
winery producing 10,000 gallons or 4,100 cases
annually would need to commit to a $75,000 total
investment and at least a $25,420 total annual cost
to own its own bottling line. However, the total
annual cost to have a mobile bottler come to this
size of a winery would be more like $17,064, with
no up-front investment for equipment.
“We have dedicated, talented staff who stay with
us for the long-term, which enables them to be Kreck of Mill Creek told us that there is generally
stronger operators who are familiar with our cus- a slight premium per case bottled for using a petite
tomers and their packages,” she said. “Also, our or small mobile bottler over a faster line and that
management team is actively engaged in field oper- labor is a significant factor in determining cost.
ations and are prepping, planning, and bottling on a However, he said that mobile bottlers usually have
daily basis.” a fee structure that includes the following, with the
cost of supplies, such as filters, sealing tape, and
McLaughlin also told The Grapevine Magazine that nitrogen or argon being extra:
all four, soon to be five, of Ryan Mobile Bottling’s
trucks insert corks. In/out and spot the trailer and
hook up utilities.....................................$300 - $600
“We have two trucks that can apply screw caps
– one of which can also apply LUX closures,” she Initial package setup for the
added. first wine of the day..............................$100 - $200

Mobile Bottling Costs A fee for package changeovers
(i.e. Bordeaux > Burgundy)....................$100 - $200
Costs can vary significantly between mobile bot-
tlers, depending on the services offered and the Wine change fee
region of the country. For example, East Coast (after first three wines of the day)........$100 - $200
Mobile Bottling charges a setup fee and minimum
service charge of $1,500 and $2.75 per case for Per case bottling and/or
sterile filtration, bottle rinse, bottle sparging, filling, labeling charge....................................$2.10 - $3.00
closure, capsule, and label. Other fees apply for
bottle changes requiring complete reconfiguration Kreck also said that the most significant variable in

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