MARCO CONCEPTUAL

CONTAINERS

A variety of containers are needed for winemaking. Boxes or other shallow containers are used to transport grapes from the vineyard to the winemaking area. Open containers are

used for mixing and for red fermentations. Closed containers are used for fermenting white juice and for aging wine.

Stainless steel is the material of choice for wine storage containers because it is inert, cleans easy and lasts for many years. Unfortunately, small stainless steel tanks suitable for wine storage are very expensive, so containers made of glass, polyethylene and wood are often used. Surplus 15- gallon beer kegs are an exception, and even though they are heavy when full, many home winemakers use stainless steel beer kegs for wine storage.

Bulk Grape Containers

Standard 2-ton gondolas measure 96 inches long by 48 inches wide by 48 inches high. A 1- ton tank measures about 48 x 48 x 48 inches. A fruit bin measuring 48 inches by 48 inches by 22 inches will hold about 1000 pounds of grapes.

A 48-inch x 32-inch x 24-inch box will hold about 650 pounds of grapes, and standard 32- gallon plastic trash cans hold about 135 pounds. When lined with trash bags, plastic milk crates hold 35 or 40 pounds of grapes. Round 5-gallon plastic buckets hold 22 to 24 pounds.

Bulk containers are usually not needed when home winemakers purchase grapes by the ton. Large quantities of grapes can be hauled easily by lining the bed of a pickup truck with a sheet of 4- mil polyethylene. The fruit is dumped directly into the bed of the truck.

Pounds Gallons Gallons of of Red of White Grapes Wine Wine --- 100 7 6 200 15 13 300 22 19 400 30 25 500 37 31 600 45 38 700 52 44 800 60 50 900 67 56 1000 75 63 2000 150 125

Table 14. Typical wine yields when a small basket press is

Open Fermenters

Many home winemakers use 32-gallon plastic trash cans for fermenting red wine. Plastic trash cans are inexpensive and lightweight. Open red fermenters should only be filled to 80 percent of capacity to prevent over flowing, so 32-gallon trash cans can ferment about 230 pounds of crushed grapes. Almost 400 pounds of crushed grapes can be fermented in a 55-gallon polyethylene drum with the head removed, and a plastic, half-ton bin will ferment about 1400 pounds of grapes.

Beer Kegs

Surplus, stainless steel beer kegs make excellent wine storage containers. Modern beer “kegs” hold 15.5 gallons, and they are readily available. Beer kegs cost about a dollar a gallon. Stainless steel beer kegs are easy to clean, and they last forever. A #11 stopper or a silicone bung can be used to seal beer kegs.

Oak Barrels

Wine barrels are made in two standard sizes, 200 liters and 225 liters. Two hundred-liter barrels hold approximately 52 gallons, and 225-liter barrels hold about 59 gallons. Most American- made barrels hold 52 gallons, and most French barrels hold 59 gallons. A half-barrel holds 25 to 30 gallons.

Bungs

Some winemakers place small pieces of cloth or burlap under wooden bungs. Although popular, such an arrangement allows considerable air to enter the barrel, and this technique should not be used for quality table wine production. Although more expensive, silicone rubber bungs are much better than old fashion wood bungs. Rubber bungs seal the barrels tightly, and they are easy to remove. Best of all, they do not deform the bungholes in expensive barrels.

Container Case Capacity

Five-gallon glass carboys contain two cases of wine. Full 15.5-gallon beer kegs hold six cases. A 27-gallon polyethylene drum holds about 11 cases. A 52-gallon barrel holds 22 cases of wine, and a 59-gallon barrel holds 24 cases. A 165-gallon polyethylene tank holds about 68 cases, and a 1000-gallon tank contains 415 cases.

SANITATION

Maintaining sanitary conditions in any winery is an important function, and keeping the home winery clean entails more than just hosing down the garage floor. Sanitation activities include washing old bottles, cleaning the equipment, disposing of pomace, controlling ants and fruit flies, keeping winemaking and storage areas clean, etc., etc.

Wash Equipment Before and After Use

the equipment immediately after use saves the winemaker a great deal of time. Grape residues are easy to wash away when wet, but dried residues are very difficult to remove.

Spray Nozzle

A hose equipped with a good spray nozzle is a necessity in the crush area. The nozzle should produce a fine spray and a solid stream. The hose and nozzle will be dropped from time to time, so the nozzle should be well designed and constructed of strong materials. Hang the hose from a hook conveniently placed in the crush area because the hose and nozzle will be used often.

Hoses

Transfer hoses can remain wet for long periods, and then mildew can grow on the inside surfaces. Hoses should be washed immediately after use and hung on a wall with both ends down, and the hoses will drain completely. Full strength Clorox will remove mold and other stains from the inside surfaces of hoses (or other difficult to reach places). However, surfaces treated with Clorox must be rinsed carefully. Use Clorox with care, and do not breathe the fumes.

Dirty Bottles

Dirty wine bottles usually contain mold, yeast and a variety of bacteria. Dirty bottles are always a potential source of contamination, and home winemakers should not store dirty bottles in the winemaking area. The bottles should be washed, as they are collected. Then the clean bottles should be stored upside down in clean cardboard cases.

Liquid dishwashing detergents are difficult to rinse away when used for washing old wine bottles, and they can leave unsightly water spots. A cup of automatic dishwasher powder in three- gallons of very hot water cleans bottles well, and the residue rinses cleanly. A teaspoon of liquid detergent should be added to the dishwasher powder if the water is hard.

Power Bottle Brush

Most bottlebrushes have a loop on the end of the wine handle. Some home winemakers remove the loop and chuck the wine handle in an electric drill. This “power” bottlebrush removes stubborn residues quickly. But use this method great care and only with low drill speeds.

Jet Bottle Washer

A jet carboy washer attached to a water facet or hose is a great convenience for washing old wine bottles. These washers are made of brass, and they last for many years. The washers are inexpensive, and they save much time and large amounts of hot water.

Auto Wheel Brush

Brushes with long handles can be purchased in large automotive supply stores. These stiff- bristled brushes are used for washing auto hubcaps and wheels, but home winemakers find them handy for scrubbing all kinds of winemaking equipment. The long handles make these brushes particularly useful for scrubbing the inside surfaces of small fermenters and tanks.