What Are Winery Chillers, and Why Do I Need One?
Winery chillers play an important role in the winemaking process. They regulate the temperature of the wine as it goes through the production and fermentation process, ensuring consistency and quality. Although you can certainly make wine without them, any winemaking project on a commercial level will probably require a winery chiller to preserve your Eugene, OR winery’s considerable time and financial investment.
What winery chillers do
When wine is made, it needs to ferment—that’s when the yeast converts sugars into alcohol and other byproducts. The higher the temperature, the faster the yeast gets the job done. Faster isn’t always better, however, and a longer fermentation process can often lead to better wine. That’s where winery chillers come in. Because the fermentation process generates heat on its own, just sticking the wine in a dark, cool room is not going to do the trick. Winery chillers allow winemakers to control the temperature of each winemaking process, even when the processes cause it to fluctuate, so results are consistently amazing.
This is achieved by glycol—in fact, you may have heard winery chillers referred to as glycol chillers. Propylene glycol is an antifreeze agent that can chill products to very low temperatures without freezing. Most winemaking processes need to be kept between 20 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit, which is why an antifreeze glycol chiller is ideal. Glycol can be chilled below 32 degrees Fahrenheit without freezing, allowing it to be pumped through the refrigeration tubes to maintain the desired temperature. This also provides extra lubrication for the chiller’s pumps.
Why you’ll love your winery chiller
In addition to guaranteeing fantastic, high-quality wine throughout the entire winemaking process, we think you’ll love your chiller for these reasons, too:
- Customizable size: There’s no one-size-fits-all option here. You can pick the size of chiller that suits your needs, whether you’re a hobbyist looking to take your work professional, or you’ve been in the business for decades. Just talk to a product specialist to find out more.
- Piping options: If you’re looking to save money, you can opt for plastic piping over copper—it won’t last as long, but if you’re just starting out, that’s one way to reduce the total cost.
- Easy maintenance (with the help of a pro): Finally, your winery chiller is easy to maintain when you enlist the help of an HVAC pro. They’ll be able to maintain your chiller, advise you of any potential problems and even recommend new products if it’s time to upgrade.
Winery chillers in Eugene, OR
Getting your own winery chiller is a sign you’re ready to take your winemaking business big time. When you invest in a glycol winery chiller in Eugene, OR, you need to guarantee the best product as well as honest and dependable installation and care. That’s where American Refrigeration Inc. comes in. We are Eugene’s top provider for commercial HVAC services, from installation to repair and maintenance. Call us today to find out what it will take to outfit your winery with the equipment it needs.