THE
FULL BOTTLE MARCH 07
Welcome to the 2nd edition of ‘The Full Bottle’,
your wine newsletter that keeps you up to date
with the latest news in wine processing and
packaging equipment developments.
Greg Fulford, President
Bronco Vineyards
Bronco Wine Company is a multi-faceted
operation that processes, bottles and
markets several of its own still and sparkling
wine brands as well as providing complete
bottling services for several California
still and sparkling wine producers.
meetings and vendor presentations, the Bronco
selection team (consisting of John Franzia;
Robert Hall, Production Manager; Gale Jensen,
Bottling Maintenance Supervisor) selected
ColloPack/Bertolaso to provide a Bertolaso
Modular Monobloc model 54/12/5/9.
Because of Bronco’s increasing volume
in recent years, they have made several
significant investments in grape processing
and wine bottling equipment to increase
thru put and efficiencies. As John Franzia,
Co-President of Bronco, states “at Bronco
we are committed to continually improving
our operating efficiencies, product quality
and maximising our economies of scale.
Ultimately we must provide our customers
with superior value. And clearly one of the
components to enable us to achieve this is
to consistently make good decisions about
the processing and bottling equipment
we purchase and install in our plants.”
This bloc includes:
With this in mind and because of increasing
demand, Bronco began the process in 2004
of replacing their sparkling wine filling
and closing equipment at their Ceres, CA
facility. After several months of internal
• Bertolaso counter pressure filler Model
Elettra 54/2100 with 54 filling valves
incorporating the latest
electro-pneumatic valve technology.
• Screw capper from Zalkin with 12
capping heads for aluminium screw caps.
• Bertolaso capper Model Kappa 605 with
5 capping heads for plastic overcap.
• Bertolaso corker Delta 609 S with 9
heads for sparkling and still wine corks.
With this bloc Bronco can produce sparkling
and still wine products at speeds from 130bpm
to 340bpm in 187, 375 and 750ml bottles.
When asked why Bronco ultimately
selected ColloPack/Bertolaso to provide
this bloc, Robert Hall responded
Robert Hall, Gale Jensen & Phil Giacalone.
“We wanted to have the capability
to changeover rapidly, maintain
exact fill height levels, minimize
dissolved oxygen pick up, and
effectively clean and sanitize all
parts that come in contact with
the wine. After analyzing all of
the proposals, we selected the
Bertolaso bloc. Their equipment
along with ColloPack’s after
sales service program was
the best solution for us.”
ColloPack Soluti o n s Th e Fu ll B o ttle Ma rch 0 7
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Francesca Pumps set a New Standard for
Gentleness & Versatility in the Wine Industry
Bin to Bottle
Bin to Bottle is a new custom crush facility
in south Napa that specializes in high quality
wines. Bin to Bottle’s goal is to create loyalty
through exceptional service and attention to
detail. Prior to the 2006 harvest, Bin to Bottle
was interested in procuring a pump that was
extremely versatile and gentle on wine.
Marco DiGiulio, Managing Partner, and Adam
Braunstein, General Manager, scheduled a
demonstration to assess the performance and
capability of the Francesca pump. Following
significant scrutiny, Marco and Adam were
impressed with the innovative positive
displacement, rotary piston design. They valued
the ability to self-prime and pump wine and
must without shearing skins and breaking seeds,
the soft stop/start when shutting off against the
pump while barrel filling, and ease of cleaning.
Marco and Adam purchased a model F05 (up
to 88 gallons/minute) for the 2006 harvest.
Following Bin to Bottle’s successful first
harvest, Marco commented “the 1 bar suction
significantly reduced the compression on the
must at the receiving hopper cone resulting
in more gentle handling of the fruit.” Adam
added “the wireless remote control of speed and
pumping direction was a great feature for pumpovers. In addition, the timed liquid sensor was a
nice option as it would shut-off the pump in the
absence of must or juice.” When Marco was asked
if he would buy another pump he commented
“absolutely, the Francesca pump was reliable and
the performance, versatility, and gentle handling
of must/wine exceeded our expectations.”
Adam Braunstein and Marco DiGiulio from Bin to Bottle.
Asti Winery
Asti Winery (Foster’s Wine Estates) produces
premium quality wines from Napa, Sonoma,
Mendocino, and Lake Counties. In order to
support growing demand for their wines,
Asti completed an impressive new crush pad
expansion prior to the 2006 harvest. To support
the increased production, Lou Toninato, Director
of Operations, endorsed a Francesca pump
demonstration at the company’s Beringer
winery in St. Helena. Glenn Kistner, Maintenance
Supervisor at Beringer, and Carl Bogner,
Ed Killian and Carl Bogner from Fosters Wine Estates
Maintenance Manager at Asti, challenged
capability and assessed the performance of the
Francesca pump. Glenn and Carl highly regarded
the mechanical design and associated reliability
of the Francesca pump. Asti purchased 2
Francesca pumps; F-10 (up to 132 gallons/minute)
and F-11 (up to 154 gallons/minute).
Asti’s new crush pad and 2006 harvest was a
success. When asked about the Francesca pumps
performance, Ed Killian, Winemaker for Chateau
Souverain, commented
“The Francesca pump’s positive displacement, rotary piston design is extremely
gentle on wine. In addition, the self-priming capability allows for efficient racking
of the lees.” Carl Bogner agreed: “The wireless remote allowing control of pump
speed and direction facilitated the racking process. In addition, the pump operated
several hours a day and was very reliable.”
ColloPack Soluti o n s Th e Fu ll B o ttle Ma rch 0 7
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Rodney Strong Vineyards
Magness, Facilities Manager. After several weeks
of meetings, vendor presentations, visits to view
bottling lines, and audits of prospective suppliers’
facilities, the team recommended purchasing
the Bertolaso Unibloc 48/54/9, and the Robino
& Galandrino Z Astra 18 capsuling machine.
John Leyden expressed a number of reasons
why they chose the Bertolaso/ColloPack package:
• Positive previous experience with
Bertolaso filling and corking equipment
and R&G capsuling machines
Greg Fulford, Jim Magness, John Leyden & Joe Mironicki
Rodney Strong Vineyards has dramatically
changed since it was acquired by the Klein family
in 1989. Dedicated to producing quality wines
exclusively from Sonoma appellations including
Russian River, Chalk Hill, Alexander Valley and
Sonoma Coast, they have become one of the
most important premium wineries in California.
Under the leadership of Tom Klein, Proprietor,
and a dedicated staff, the winery has upgraded
its facilities literally from the ground up. From
acquisition and development of estate vineyards
to grape processing, barrel warehousing, super
premium winery within a winery, and most
recently a wine bottling plant, every aspect of
the Rodney Strong facility has been upgraded.
In 2005, the existing bottling line (installed
in 1993 and with some 1985 vintage
equipment) was running double shifts to
keep up with market demand. Although the
maintenance and bottling teams had done
an exceptional job, the line required constant
maintenance and no longer could meet the
desired production needs of the winery.
A bottling line acquisition team was developed
to define objectives, evaluate equipment
and potential vendors and ultimately make
recommendations to the Board. The team leaders
were Tobin Ginter, CFO; John Leyden, Senior
VP of Packaging and Distribution; and Jim
ColloPack Solutions proudly
partner with the World’s
Leading Wine Equipment
manufacturers. Collopack’s
Team have enjoyed over
a quarter of a century of
wine industry experience
and installed thousands of
units of equipment from
the following partners:
• Competitive pricing
• Confidence in the capabilities of
ColloPack’s after sales parts
and service departments
• Technical advantages including
closed-loop automatic CIP system;
low maintenance, reliable wine filling
system; and durable, low
maintenance corking jaws.
• Controlled atmosphere chamber
above the filler to protect filling
environment from contaminants.
The bloc was installed and started up in
March of 2006. Jim Magness, Maintenance
Manager, appreciates its many benefits
including the precise control of the bottle
through the rinser/filler/corker bloc. Also
because of the modular construction of the
bloc, Jim now is syncro-linking (without any
modifications to the existing bloc’s structure)
a new Bertolaso Sigma ROPP Capper.
Rodney Strong Vineyards is dedicated to
crafting world-class wines with complexity and
varietal expression that capture the essence of
Sonoma County. With their new line bottling
line, they are confident that they will meet
the quality, packaging, and sales demands
of their current and future customers.
Proven Partnership you can rely on!
ColloPack Soluti o n s Th e Fu ll B o ttle Ma rch 0 7
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Vintage 23 By Diemme
Cakebread Cellars became Napa Valley’s first winery
some of the worlds foremost winemakers to
to use the 2,300 liter Vintage 23. During its first
oversee the production of the varietals for which
season of use Cakebread processed about 50 per
they have become known for. These celebrated
cent of their reds with the basket press; completing
vintners include Randy Dunn and Phillipe Melka of
their pressing in early December. Cakebread plans a
California, John Duval of Australia, Michel Roland
comprehensive evaluation of their wines over time.
from France’s Bordeaux region of Pomerol, Giovanni
For the 2006 harvest, Joe Dobbes, Wine by Joe owner
From California’s Central Coast and Napa
Valley through the Willamette Valley in
Oregon and Washington’s Walla Walla region
Diemme’s new Vintage basket press was used
to produce a broad spectrum of premium
Folonari of Tuscany and Armin Diel of Germany.
and winemaker added a Diemme Vintage 23 to his
In addition to the Vintage 23, ColloPack Solutions
press pad. Wine by Joe is a full service, state of the
provided an 80 hl Diemme 80 MS.C tank press, Diemme
art, custom winemaking facility located in Dundee,
Kappa 15 destemmer/crusher, Diemme grape sorting
Oregon. With twenty two clients whose primary aim
and conveying equipment and the flexible Francesca
is to produce super premium Oregon wines Wine by
rotary piston pump (used for both must and liquid
Joe focuses on quality and efficiency by incorporating
transfer). Completing the processing package were
the finest equipment, gravity flow for gentle
Tersainox fermenting and storage tanks custom
product handling and exemplary cellar practices.
manufactured to the customer’s specifications.
Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc,
Merlot and Pinot Noir were pressed in the basket
press. Joe felt he got more from the grapes using
ColloPack equipment at Long Shadows not only
performed well but “added positive visual aspects”
appropriate to a cellar of such high standards.
the new Vintage, characterizing the resulting
Long Shadows’ choices were based not only on
wines as “more interesting”, having “more depth,
providing their winemaking team with the best
Winemaker Matthias Gubler of Viña Robles in Paso
richness and structure”. Joe also reported the
available equipment in terms of quality and technology
Robles reported that their “experience with the
wines showed “definitely better clarity” than
but also on ease of use, reliability and availability
Diemme basket press was very positive” and “while the
those from his existing membrane presses.
of after sales support; all key factors in selecting a
red varietals during the 2006 vintage.
quality of the press juice would vary depending on the
overall grape quality… the results were very good, very
clean and clear juice came out from the beginning
of the press cycle”. Viña Robles used their Diemme
Vintage press for both Bordeaux varieties (Cabernet
Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petite Verdot) as well
as Rhone varieties such as Syrah and Petite Sirah.
Long Shadows Vintners, near Walla Walla, Washington,
supplier for a facility in a rather remote location.
is a completely new facility which purchased a Diemme
Long Shadows’ season was long and challenging
Vintage 23 for their red wine program. Winemaker
but also rewarding due to the quality it
Gilles Nicault, stated that he “was astonished by the
produced. ColloPack Solutions is proud to
quality of press wine” from his new basket press.
have been chosen as their major processing
Long Shadows, created to showcase the viticultural
equipment supplier for this ambitious project.
excellence of the Columbia Valley, brings together
Dave Means
VP
Administration & Service
Napa
Cell: 707 480 8709
[email protected]
Rick White
VP & Product Manager
Processing Equipment
Diemme/ Tersainox
Cell: 707 738 0511
[email protected]
Craig Richardson
Product Manager
Processing Equipment
Francesca Pumps
Cell: 707 256 9829
[email protected]
Phil Giacalone
VP Sales
Bottling Equipment
Napa
Cell: 707 486 9439
[email protected]
Joe Mironicki
Senior Sales Rep
Processing/Bottling Equipment
Sonoma/Oregon
Cell: 707 695 3125
[email protected]
Mike Wlodarczyk
Northwest Sales
Processing/Bottling Equipment
Washington State
Cell: 509 670 6027
[email protected]
ColloPack Solutions LLC
193 Camino Dorado Avenue, Napa, CA 94558 • Ph 707 258 3940 • Fax 707 258 3949
www.collopack.com
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