Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/867389
September 2017 WINES&VINES 59 TECHNICAL SPOTLIGHT WINEMAKING inspection and saves on shipping costs. "I ask for as many photos as possible and get as much back- ground as I can on how it was used, and I try to figure out why it was taken out of service," he said. "Sometimes it's a company selling old equipment, or they're closing down a plant, and some- times the winery just outgrew it to buy a larger capacity machine. In those cases you can find gems, and they may even come with extra parts." In other cases, the machine may have died during use. He bought an older model MEB labeler that was not working but only needed a $20 sensor to get it running. He cleaned and overhauled the unit and now has a 4,000-bottle-per-hour capacity labeler bought for a fraction of the cost of a new labeler. When buying a used machine, he said, "I make sure there is nothing bent, nothing missing and no missing or cut wires." Although Donaldson has no for- mal training in machine repair, he is mechanically inclined. He invested in a few tools, including a welder for light metal work and a multi-meter for testing electrical components. He's de- veloped a good relationship with a machine shop and hardware company, J. Milano Co. Inc. in nearby Stockton, that assists in repair work, parts fabrication and works with him to adapt equipment to meet his needs. Industry suppliers also provide tech support and sell parts for used equipment. "I have Bertolaso ma- chines, and ColloPack Solutions (the U.S. Bertolaso supplier based in Napa) has been great to work with," Donaldson said. If the equip- ment has a serial number, a supplier or manufacturer's rep can often trace the ownership and service records of specific machines. They can also provide operation and ser- vice manuals for older equipment. He obtained equipment and supplies from the recently shut down General Mills plant in Lodi, including a non-operating Hyster forklift. He spent more money for a new battery than it cost to buy the used forklift, but he now has a working forklift for less than $1,000. LVVR's main new equipment is an automatic riddling machine, a Roto-Jolly-Due gyropalette from LAFAL in Italy, supplied through Criveller California. It has two pallet cages, each holding 504 bottles. Donaldson said this is the first unit of its kind sold in the western United States. The programmable machine comes with three standard riddling programs of four, five, or seven days. LVVR uses the seven- day cycle. This unit is expandable to four cages, something Donaldson plans to do as business increases. Making the wines For the main component in cur- rent base wines, LVVR sources The brick-wall LVVR tasting room originally housed the brandy-distilling boiler for the Lockeford Cooperative Winery built in 1946.