Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/74662
WINEMAKING As the project progressed, it be- came clear that a winery staffed and equipped to support winemaking at the highest level would need to be larger than originally planned for Arken- stone's limited production. Incorporat- ing top-tier custom crush services in a collegial setting also was seen as a syn- ergistic solution. To accommodate a winery capable of producing 20,000 cases per year with minimal impact to the natural setting, a decision was reached that most of the winery ex- pansion would oc- cur underground. The Krauszes CALIFORNIA Mendocino Calistoga Pacific Ocean worked with Arkenstone fruit in a variety of custom crush settings, and the experience taught them what worked and what didn't work in a custom crush situation. In spring 2006, winemaker Sam Kaplan joined the Krauszes in producing the 2006 Arken- stone wines, the first vintage to be released under the winery's label. Ka- plan brought extensive experience to the job, having worked at Pine Ridge Winery and spent many years with ZD Wines. The custom crush experience with Kaplan yielded additional insights about the need for flexibility in custom crush, where it can be necessary to change processes quickly to facilitate a smooth workflow. OR CALIFORNIA Arkenstone Vineyards Napa San Francisco Going underground Don Magorian, owner of Magorian Mine Services, brought many years of experi- ence with wine cave construction to the team, helping translate the conceptual ideas of the owners into a unique cave design. Kaplan and the Krauszes provided insight that helped refine the design, as did Jon Lail of Lail Design, whose expe- rience with winery construction helped validate the pro- gram requirements. NV Arkenstone's cave allowed Magorian to utilize the architectural ideas he had reserved for a client who was willing to collaborate in the process. As Magorian explains it, "Only the owner knows what he likes and what his goals are. He is the one who drives the design process. Things look different underground from a per- son's above-ground perspective, and one of my strengths is to take what is beauti- ful, functional and buildable and integrate this with the owner's ideas and goals." A key concept of Magorian's was to include a deck to divide the largest cave Mercier_Jan11.qxp 11/11/10 6:40 PM Page 1 During construction, the large barrel storage room looks mammoth. It is only slightly smaller now that it is finished with floors and a final coat of shotcrete. WECO M.O.G. Sorter Optical Sorting of Stems, Jacks, Shot Berry and Foreign Material Based in California USA West Coast Contact: Ken Deis 707.567.5711 mercierbarrels@gmail.com Pacific Northwest: Bruce Felix 503.419.7942 info@pacificwinemaking.com USA East Coast: Doug Moorhead 814.725.1314 doug@piwine.com QSEE US AT UNIFIED, BOOTH #727 Rental and Purchase Options Sorting and Automation Solutions 1-800-984-0844 / wecotek.com Wines & Vines JAnUARY 2011 45 W.A. FUCHS