22 MARCH 15, 2016 Good Fruit Grower www.goodfruit.com
of nitrogen and carbon dioxide gas prevents oxidation as
the 20-liter (5.2-gallon) kegs are tapped, ensuring wines
remain fresh.
Hester Creek is now one of approximately 80 wineries
using FreshTAP, which has approximately 12,000 kegs
circulating among more than 600 restaurants across
Canada. A separate kegging facility in Ontario serves
FreshTAP clients in that province.
Growth was slow at first, but kegs have caught on, and
FreshTAP managing director Mike Macquisten is looking
at expansion opportunities.
"It's finally caught up to the point where we're really
excited about where it's going," he said. "There's been a
surge of new business and new customers, and I think
it just takes awhile for people to really understand the
category."
The system that FreshTAP uses isn't the only option
available to wineries.
Steel kegs from Torr Industries of Redding, California,
hold a wine-filled polyethylene pouch that serves as a
PHOTO COURTESY FRESHTAP LOGISTICS INC.
Wineries send wine in totes (and other containers) to FreshTAP Logistics Inc. for kegging and distribution.
"There's been a surge of
new business and new
customers, and I think it just
takes awhile for people to really
understand the category."
—Mike Macquisten
