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4 4 V I N E YA R D & W I N E RY M A N A G E M E N T | J u l y - A u g 2 016 w w w. v w m m e d i a . c o m At Okanagan Crush Pad, which produces roughly 35,000 cases per year, clients can use stainless steel tanks ranging in size from 1,000 to 14,000 L; two- to three-ton, open- top fermenters for red punch - downs; 1,800 L Sonoma Cast Stone eggs and 4,000 to 4,500 L Nico Velo Cylindrical and Tulipe tanks as well as 800 L amphorae. This lets clients pick and choose readily between concrete fermentation and aging, stainless or oak treatment, says Dumayne. "Stainless is a great tool," says Z i e m e r. " M o s t w i n e r i e s d o n 't change completely to oak and con- crete. That's a rarity." C o m p a r a t i v e e v a l u a t i o n s b y winemakers using juice from the same crush in different tanks shapes the prevailing contemporary opinion of these vessels. Experi- mentation is leading winemakers to segment even their own offer- ings to take advantage of the differ- ent characteristics these materials impart to the wines they make. Concrete vessels are a favorite of Matt Dumayne, winemaker at Okanagan Crush Pad, a family-run custom crush winery located in Summerland, B.C., after working with these tanks for roughly four years. "They have thick walls that act as excellent insulation as well as heat transference during fermen- tation," he says. "They're slightly porous, so they offer great aging without outside flavor influences." "Our Haywire brand is 8,000 cases and uses exclusively con- crete," says Dumayne. The con- crete helps "gain texture and richness on the palate, which con- crete is very good at without the additional flavors of oak. We're high- lighting the fruit from our organic vineyards, making regional and sub- regional wines from the Okanagan Valley that should not be replicating other areas' styles or techniques." Winemakers are increasingly working with smaller batches using Okanagan Crush Pad Winemaker Matt Dumayne favors concrete tanks for highlighting the flavor of the winery's organic fruit. AD TO COME Advertise Now 707.577.7700 Online In Print