4 replies to this topic

[Pheasant Country]

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I've seen these open top fermenters at a number of wineries, but haven't been able to find them online. They have an inner plastic tub, with a wood panel exterior. Does anyone know what they're called or where they are sold?

Thanks!

[Calamity Cellars]

I have seen something similar in Washington. Here they are using a wooden fruit bin used for hauling fruit, predominately apples, and have a hard plastic fitted liner inside. The bins are owned by the huge conglomerate fruit processing company are nearly impossible to purchase. The growers have to pay a deposit on them and are very diligent about getting them back to the fruit companies. Same deal as kegs and taverns. I saw the liners for sale on a farm supply web site but I didn't pursue it since I couldn't reasonably acquire the wooden bins. I found the plastic macro bins to be a much better option. They are readily available, reasonably priced, essentially indestructible, and they don't have a "stolen from xxx fruit company" painted on the side.

One winery that I know is using them is Tefft Cellars in Outlook, WA. You could send them an email & ask.

[gregorio]

Most of te fruit packing plants make their own. Our prune and walnut plants used to. Had a whole division making tote bins. They are not very hard to make. Take a 4x4 and rip it on the diagonal. Use that for your corner braces. You can even use a pallet as the bottom. Be sure to add some metal straps at strategic locations to keep it from exploding with the extreme pressure.

In the end, a good used macro or bomarc bin will be much better.

[Pheasant Country]

Thanks for the info! I agree that a good macrobin seems like the way to go. The reason I ask is that I just visited a winery this week and they said they got rid of their macrobins and replaced them with the wooden bins as the macrobins (or the version they had) didn't last very long.

When I visit the winery again, I'll dig deeper and report back.

Thanks again!

[gregorio]

Huh? Wood outlasts plastic? Was it petrified? Even if their useful life was close to the same, there are so many other problems with wood compared to plastic. Wood is a breeding ground for mold and bacteria most of which are not desireable to be anywhere near your wine. Plastic can be easily sanitized before and after use. Also, wood bins are about 33-50% heavier than their plastic counterparts.

If I were you, I'd go buy up some of their plastic bins they are retiring.