Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/62522
WINEMAKING California Alcoholic Beverage Control 17 wholesale and 20 retail licenses as "vir- tual wineries," which are legally wholesal- ers and retail wine sellers. The brands produced, by winemaker, are D. R. Stephens Estate, Parallel, Char- nu and Relic by Mike Hirby; Hunnicutt, Scully, RemRidg, Winter, Moffett, Carte Blanch and Bure by Kirk Venge. The permit for the winery allows a 25,000-case output per year, but the initial facility can handle about 15,000 cases. D.R. Stephens and Hunnicutt total about 4,000 cases combined. A single assistant winemaker helps all the brands under the direction of Hirby and Venge. Designed for collaboration Though it seems an ambitious project for these trying times, Stephens says the cave cost half what a basic metal industrial building would, and it saves money in utilities and ongoing maintenance as well. Stephens designed the facility for custom crushing small lots in collaboration with the winemakers. "We're not looking for over- flow from larger wineries," he emphasizes. The grapes are crushed outside on a crush pad. The cave contains many small Grapes are processed on an outdoor crush pad that features several sorting stations including a manual incline sorter at the first stage. tanks of different sizes for flexibility, though small tanks cost almost as much as larger ones. Equipment includes two 3,000-gallon tanks, 16 1,500-gallon tanks and three 1,000-gallon tanks. All but four are new tanks from Criveller; four 1,500-gallon www.powerflexfence.com Premium Products at affordable prices... • Gripples & Torq Tool • Heavy Duty Tensioners • Hi-Tensile Wire (40 year life) • Knipex Tools (Lifetime Warranty) • Professional Wire Dispenser • Premium Crimp Tools & Sleeves Professionals Prefer PowerFlex tanks were moved from the facility where Hunnicutt and D.R. Stephens formerly made wine. Hunnicutt also uses smaller tanks like a 500-gallon TransStore and some stainless barrels. All wine brands share the Armbruster RotoVibe E2 destemmer (they don't really CASEGOODS • PROCESSING • STRATEGIC PLANNING • Unmatched expertise in long-term contracts Fast response to client needs • market information and research Publishers of • for a S trategic Avnae Te Tretn h urnie Outlook: S datg • Reputation for integrity from 38 years of service • Over $1.5 billion in grape and wine sales in the last 10 years • Proven long-term strategies from exclusive and superior trategies & Forecasts Steve Fredricks: President / Domestic & International Bulk Wine Brian Clements: Vice President / North Coast Grapes Michael Robichaud: Senior Broker / Bulk Wine Erica Moyer: Interior & Monterey County Grapes Steve Robertson: Bulk Wine Our Team of Brokers: Matt Turrentine: SLO & Santa Barbara Grapes Stephens Moody: Bulk Wine Audra Cooper: North Coast Grapes Marc Cuneo: North Coast Bulk Wine 417-741-1230 • info@powerflexfence.com www.turrentinebrokerage.com 415.209.9463 Wines & Vines DeCeMBeR 2011 31 Strategic Advisors GRAPES • WINES IN BULK • GLOBAL SOURCING Trusted and