Variable Capacity Tanks

Winemaking- Variable Capacity Tanks

The serious winemaker will often move from using glass or plastic carboys as secondary fermenters to using stainless steel variable capacity tanks as secondary fermenters or bulk dispensing tanks. The beauty of using a variable capacity tank is the fact that the container does not have to be filled to capacity to elliminate the airspace. Any amount of wine can be put into the tank and then the lid will be floated directly on the surface of the wine and a gasket will be inflated with a pump to create a seal between the lid and the side of the tank.

These tanks can also be used as dispensing tanks if you don't want the trouble of bottling the wine. The winemaker can remove any amount of wine from the spigot and then just lower the lid so that it is again sitting on the wine surface protecting the wine from oxidation. To completely elliminate the possibility of oxidation, the airlock can be removed and replaced with a solid rubber stopper. Grape and Granary sells tanks from 50 liters (12 gallons) to 300 liters (75 gallons). The most popular size is the 100 liter (25 gallons). A stand can be purchased separately if desired.