Crusher / Destemmer Research Summary and Recommendations

1. Crusher / Destemmer Research Summary and Recommendations Joe Sikora and Mark Emiley

2. Overall Process • Literature review for open source information on Crushers and Destemmers • Club crush profile evaluation • Requirements derivation • Broad model research • Detailed model research • Vendor interviews • User visits and interviews • Lots and lots of questions about details

3. Crusher Research • Crush quality is most desired attribute (per club survey) • Other important requirements: • No must pump • Robustness / reliability • Destemmer/Crushers (D/Cs) are the industry “state of the art” for crush quality • Difficult to find a D/C that is ideal fit for our purposes • Very expensive / large • Most have must exit very near ground • No ideal C/Ds either • Lack the quality features / robustness • Compromises are required

4. Key Parameters and Features – What are they? • Type: Crusher-Destemmer, Destemmer-Crusher, or Destemmer • Total Costs: includes stands/modifications and shipping • Gravity transfer of must: what is the exit ht of the must output? stand, leg extension, or mod reqd? special (shorter) collection bin? • Rated Throughput: lbs of grapes processed per hour (note: rated throughput is higher than actual throughput) • Roller material: aluminum, nylon, or rubber crushing rollers • Adjustable rollers?: whether gap between rollers can be adjusted • Spring loaded rollers?: whether roller gap is fixed or can widen by objects passing thru • Destem only?: Can the unit be configured to destem w/o crush? • Variable Speed?: Can the unit run at different/variable speeds? • Cage hole size: size of holes of destemming cage (in mm) • Rubber tipped paddles?: rubber tips on destemmer paddles? • Other considerations and concerns: especially those relating to robustness (e.g. materials), and ease of cleaning (e.g. disassembly/internal access) and use (e.g. portability) This list encompasses a subset of the total information collected

5. Key Parameters and Features – What We’re Looking For & Why • Type:Destemmer-Crusher = best for crush/wine quality, less stems crushed, less harsh/bitter/green tannins from stems, smoother wine, more whole berries = more aromatics preserved • Total Costs: affordable, the right balance of quality/reqmts met vs. $ • Gravity transfer of must:crush directly into 20G fermenter; if not – looking for the cheapest suitable alternative (to elevate unit or use shorter collection bin) • Rated Throughput:higher output (>2T/hr) = decreased time for large crushes • Roller material:rubber crushing rollers = most gentle on grapes, less crushing of seeds, stems, less shearing/damage of skins, less harsh/bitter tannins • Adjustable rollers?:yes = more gentle on grapes, less shearing/damage of skins, less harsh/bitter tannins, if roller gap is sized appropriately for berry • Spring loaded rollers?:yes = for gentle tx of grapes (more relevant to C/Ds to avoid crushing clumps of stems?) & to avoid damage (if passing rocks, etc.) • Destem only?:yes = desirable for certain types of winemaking; preserves aromatics (if part of fermentation is whole berry) • Variable Speed?:yes = slower speed allows for cleaner destemming • Cage hole size:smaller (<20mm) = better for most grapes** = less jacks • Rubber tipped paddles?:yes = more gentle on grapes … • Other considerations and concerns: less plastic in drive train = more robust; motor sized (hp) for load = longevity; Easy to open up / easy to hose out = cleanability; portability – how heavy is it or is it on rollers? ** 20mm would be better for a majority of grapes we crush (e.g. Cab), but may not work as well for some (e.g. Merlot)

6. Manufacturers and Models That We Looked At • Looked at every manufacturer with a model less than $10K • CMA (Lugana models) • Marchisio (Alpha, Europa models) • Della Toffola (NDC 8 model) • Enoitalia from St. Pats (Jolly and Eno series models) • Mori (many, incl E series C/D; R30/R40/R50 series D/Cs) • TEM (Gamma series) • Zambelli (Cantinetta, Beta C/Ds; Elle 80, Manta, Gamma, Zeta D/Cs) • OMAC/Velo from More Beer (WExxx series C/Ds and D/Cs) • Fratelli Baesso (“cheapo” unit available at Larry’s) • Plus some other “cheapo” units and units that are “knock-offs” of the models above by other manufacturers • Collected detailed data on all models less than $6K (and some above)

7. D/C Market • D/Cs are the industry state of the art • Systems developed to provide best crush quality for big $ operations • Current D/C market – not geared towards smaller operations • Very few systems that are not extremely $$$ • Currently, too many require must pumps • Brutal treatment to fruit • Complications with multiple users (must trapped in line), pain in butt to clean • Without pumps, units must be elevated – too high for normal use • Frequently designed to be used with forklifts or platforms • Or expensive custom stand/modification required • Lower $ units not built w/ usability in question (e.g. cleaning challenges) • For currently available units at our price point, compromises in quality and usability = poor value • Would require detailed knowledge of system to overcome usability issues • Would require an “expert” to be on hand for all crushes • Difficult to clean, potential sanitation issues • The lowest $ units also lack some of the quality features looking for • The lowest $ units require modifications to make work for us (“klugey”)

8. D/C Conclusions And the Research Sez … • A D/C is the right type of machine for us • Assuming we want the best crush quality • We buy the highest quality ($) grapes in the state … • But the “right” D/C does not (yet) exist in the marketplace • We do not recommend a D/C for the club at this time • Anticipate D/C designs will become more compatible with smaller operations like ours • The demand is out there – small wineries want what we want • Some vendors have input on machine “specs” to suppliers and are lobbying for what we want (and we can lobby them) • A report that one supplier has a prototype for a small no-must pump D/C • While prices may not come down, there may be more units with the “right” designs at the low end of the D/C market (<$6K) • Recommendations: • Dedicated savings plan and commitment (&continued market probing) to buy D/C within TBD (2-6?) years • Purchase a C/D in the meantime

9. Selection Process – Can be broken down into categories Cat. 1: NO COMPROMISES D/C UNIT • top choice: MORI R30, $7100 • compromises incl: none, other than cost Cat. 2: BEST “VALUE D/C” UNIT • top choice: MoreBeer WE277, $4200 • compromises incl: lg. cage size (25mm), not var spd, too large*? Cat. 3: BEST “LARGE C/D” UNIT • top choice: ZAMBELLI BETA, $2070 • compromises incl: not D/C, lg. cage holes (25mm), not spring-loaded Cat. 4: BEST “SMALL C/D” UNIT • top choices: WE273, $1265 • compromises incl: not D/C, medium cage holes (22mm)**, smaller throughput In addition, we move to make Little Blue into a Destemmer-only

10. Name: Zambelli Beta Est. Total Price: $2,070 Variable Speed: No Average throughput: 8,000 Adjustable rollers?: Yes Roller material: Rubber Spring loaded rollers?: No Destem only?: No Cage hole size: 25.6 mm Rubber tipped paddles?: No Power: 220V 1 P Size: 51"x26"x52" Motor Power: 1 HP Warrantee 1 year Special considerations: Good brand; Good report from Yabut, McNally OMAC WE273 $1,265 No 3,500 Yes Rubber Yes No 22 mm No 120V 1 P 47"x19.6"x42.5" 1 HP 3 years Possible to use with one person Used in “rental” mode – possibly a good recommendation for our club’s use Options 3 and 4 (Crusher-Destemmers)

11. Primary Questions for Comparing Beta and WE273 • How important is throughput? (faster crushes) • Is it more important than advantages of WE273:- ~$800 less?- 3 year warranty?- slightly smaller cage hole size?- spring-loaded rollers? • OR is running more than one crusher an option to achieve higher throughput? • Process different berries at a crush simultaneously? • Two machines to clean? • Different settings for one delivery – less adjustment time? • Other considerations: • Maneuverability • 120 V versus 220 V • Motor sizing (both 1hp motors for different throughputs)