Ideal equipment for 550 case winery

[stockm20]

I have a 420 plant vineyard (150 5yr old vines and 270 3yr vines). I want to in the next 5 years increase to 2.5 acres in production. If my maths correct, assuming I get 3.5 tons to the acre, I would be able to produce 550 cases of wine.

Currently I sell my wine grapes to a local winery, but once I hit this size, I think I could start a small commercial set up and rent a shop downtown as a tasting room. Do you think this is sound reasoning? I was thinking if this wasn't enough volume, I could use my vinifera grapes as a higher price point, and purchase hybrid bulk wine for sweeter value wines.

So assuming, 550 gallon production, starting from scratch, going from vine to wine, what are some reasonably affordable set-ups.

I'd like to use used neutral barrels for reds and stainless steel for whites. I'm open to plastic though too.

Thanks in advance. Long time lurker, first time poster.


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[whackfol]

How many different wines and in what quantities will you make? Determining your needs will be largely dependent on what you make, the time you are willing to commit, and what you know. MoreWine's catalog shows the trade off winemakers can make as they scale up - mainly cash versus time and labor.
I encourage you to think of the entire process -- especially how you move the must and wine. I am a hobbiest and make two bbls of reds each year. With my setup, I can crush 2,000 lbs in about an hour. Pressing takes about two hours. What I was willing and capable of doing in 1999, is different from what I do now. My equipment grew with my needs and availability.
You have many options for you quantity and few are better than the other. It's a price versus labor trade off.

 

[stockm20]

Thanks. I'll have to check out that catalog. I want to buy my equipment to grow into as I grow.

Right now my vineyard is mostly experimental. My first planting of 150 was 25 each of Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cab Franc, and 50 cab Sav . I then added 100 cab Sav, 100 Pinot, 50 cab franc, and 25 Pinot Gris.

I have a site with more clay for merlot, a sandier site for more Cab Sav. When the 2.5 acres are in the ground I want .5 acres cab Sav, .25 acres merlot, .25 acres cab franc, .5 acres pinot and .33 of each white varietal.

In terms of wines made, I think I'd try a Boudreaux blend maybe something like 50 percent cab Sav, 25 percent merlot, 25 percent cab franc. A varietal Pinot noir, Riesling and Pinot Gris.


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[manvsvine]

Flex tank cubes or barrels are perfect for a small set up.
http://www.flextankusa.com. And safer than used neutral barrels .

They will give you micro ox like a barrel and you can use staves with them.

The micro ox is slow enough they work well for whites . But if storing whites in them for over 6 months , get the thicker ones.
Cheaper than stainless .

http://www.flextankusa.com.

If you want barrels , recoop.net makes safe , well crafted recoopered oak.

I'd go with a cheap used forklift and bin tipper over a must pump . A small forklift is a god send in a small winery . I've even lifted a flex tank up and gravity filled barrel from it.

And there is a lot of used small winery equipment like presses , crushers and tanks around right now , especially in California and Washington.
Lots of the smaller producers haven't survived or have had to get bigger to survive the last few years.

If you are in a wine producing region , booking a mobile bottle plant is the way to go. Cheaper and they often get you bulk pricing on the glass and corks that you couldn't get on your own . 550 cases is very short run for these guys. But big enough to make it worth their while.
Vs days of hand labour with a 4 head filler and corkers.