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June 2017 WINES&VINES 17 WINE INDUSTRY NEWS Simplify and accelerate barrel cleaning without compromising cleaning effectiveness with the new TankJet M60 barrel cleaner. • It's mobile, so it is quick and easy to position right next to the barrel, insert into the bung hole, clean and move to the next barrel • Powerful, fast cleaning at low fl ow rates prevents toast removal – clean multiple barrels in minutes • Non-lubricated air motor ensures speed and cycle times are relatively constant even when liquid pressure changes • Compatible with a variety of pressure washers and pumps INTRODUCING THE TANKJET ® M60 MOBILE BARREL CLEANER: EASIER, FASTER & BETTER CLEANING FREE TRIAL OR ON-SITE DEMO CALL 1.800.95.SPRAY TO SPEAK WITH YOUR LOCAL REP OR VISIT TANKJET.COM TankJet M60 barrel cleaner – effective cleaning of barrels up to 5' (1.5 m) in dia. about 2,000 cases annually, but current releases cost $285 per bottle, and most is sold directly to consumers. Krupp Brothers' new home On May 10, Dr. Jan Krupp an- nounced his purchase of Kitchak Cellars. The 20-acre property in- cludes a 10-acre vineyard, winery, tasting rooms and barrel room. "We took the opportunity pro- vided to us by the sale of Stage- coach Vineyard to expand our winery brand and to focus on what brought us to Napa in the first place: creating exquisite wines," Krupp said in a statement announcing the purchase. "Now, not only do we now have a deluxe winery, but we are able to host our guests in a setting that truly com- plements our wines." In addition to developing Stage- coach, Krupp and his brother, Bart Krupp, started the Krupp Brothers wine company that had produced around 6,000 cases per year. Krupp's deal with Gallo allows him to access select Stagecoach vineyard blocks. Krupp Brothers will now bring wine production out of custom crush and into its own winery. "The advantage of having your own winery estate is that we have complete control over every step—from the vineyard to the bot- tling including tank availability, and complete flexibility over tim- ing of when to press the grapes from the skins," Krupp said. Founded in 2005 by Peter Kitchak, a former race car driver and real estate consultant, Kitchak Cellars was producing around 2,000 cases per year. The deal in- cludes the brand and inventory, and the Krupps will continue pouring Kitchak wines at the win- ery. The Krupps plan to continue production of Kitchak wines for the foreseeable future. Krupp Brothers opened a tast- ing room in the city of Napa in 2016. The company will continue to operate that venue as well. —Andrew Adams and Paul Franson eries don't have many employees. (For more on this practice, see "Washington State Vineyards At- tract Immigrant Investment" in the January 2017 issue.) The business of wine Merger and acquisition advisor Mario Zepponi agrees that today's Chinese buyers are looking more for lifestyle deals than the big in- stitutional buyers he generally sees. He noted that some past buy- ers wanted to take successful win- eries and destroy what they had accomplished by transferring sales to China. "That doesn't add up," Zepponi said. By contrast, some wineries like Acumen and Maxville have refo- cused efforts from China to the U.S. and other markets. Maxville Lake Vineyards once expected to sell most of its product in China but now is partnering with Terlato Wines for U.S. sales. The company recently held a grand opening of its high-altitude winery in the eastern part of the Napa Valley AVA. A large delegation of Chinese distributors attended the event, where CEO Anthony Hsu and chairman Yinhui Li addressed the c r o w d i n b o t h E n g l i s h a n d Chinese. Acumen Wine is owned by Chinese-born businessman Eric Yuan, who studied and lived in France before buying 40 acres of property from Jan Krupp in 2012. The company has applied to build Mountain Peak Winery on the property in remote Foss Valley, at the end of Soda Canyon Road. One broker who specializes in winery estates for lifestyle buyers has talked to many Chinese pros- pects over the years—and sold a few wineries—but doesn't see much activity these days. Robyn Bentley of Wine Country Consul- tants finds more domestic pros- pects, especially in the Pacific Northwest, though he handled both parties when Jan Krupp, who recently sold Stagecoach Vine- yards, bought Kitchak Cellars win- ery in Napa. —Paul Franson —continued from page 15