Hi,
I hope someone can help me get started on a school project. I am
working on a project for a hypothetical client who wants to make 500
cases of petite sirah wine. Does anyone know of a good reference that
would outline the particulars of an enterprise of that size?? For
example, what equipment is involved, how much raw materials cost etc??
Any direction would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

"Bart Tolley" > wrote in message
om...
> Hi,
> I hope someone can help me get started on a school project. I am
> working on a project for a hypothetical client who wants to make 500
> cases of petite sirah wine. Does anyone know of a good reference that
> would outline the particulars of an enterprise of that size?? For
> example, what equipment is involved, how much raw materials cost etc??
> Any direction would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Hi Bart,
There are 2.4 gallons of wine in a case. 2.4 X 500 = 1200 gallons.
Depending, one ton of grapes will make about 150 gallons.
So 500 cases requires about 8 tons of grapes.
Petite Sirah grapes range in cost from $700 to $3000.
A bottles, labels, corks and capsules will cost about $10 per case.

More info here http://home.att.net/~lumeisenman/

We just started a winery producing about 800 cases. How much detail would
you like?

"Bart Tolley" > wrote in message
om...
> Hi,
> I hope someone can help me get started on a school project. I am
> working on a project for a hypothetical client who wants to make 500
> cases of petite sirah wine. Does anyone know of a good reference that
> would outline the particulars of an enterprise of that size?? For
> example, what equipment is involved, how much raw materials cost etc??
> Any direction would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

"Doug Wagner" > wrote in message
...
> We just started a winery producing about 800 cases. How much detail would
> you like?

Cool -- have you created a web site? How are you marketing your wine sales?

Steve

"Doug Wagner" > wrote in message
...
> We just started a winery producing about 800 cases. How much detail would
> you like?
>

i'd be very interested to hear what your start up costs were, i'm sure
others would too, feel free to post your tale here

"santos" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Doug Wagner" > wrote in message
> ...
> > We just started a winery producing about 800 cases. How much detail
would
> > you like?
> >
>
> i'd be very interested to hear what your start up costs were, i'm sure
> others would too, feel free to post your tale here

I am also working at close to that level. I just bottled 400 cases of 2002
Chardonnay, and have the 2003 in the works.

I didn't buy a winery. I'm working as an "alternating proprietor" at a big,
commercial winery. I use all their equipment (for a nominal fee) and rent
storage space from them for my racks of barrels. This is a much more
affordable approach than buying all that expensive equipment that just sits
idle for most of the year. Typical crush fee is about $300/ton, including
pressing and settling. Barrel storage is $5.25/mo/barrel. Bottling cost me
about $4/case. All bottled wine remains in their bonded area until I
withdraw it to sell it, at which time I pay the Feds their tax. I had to
get a Basic Permit from the ATF and a wholesaler's permit from the state
ABC.

Tom S

> > We just started a winery producing about 800 cases. How much detail would
> > you like?
> >
>
> i'd be very interested to hear what your start up costs were, i'm sure
> others would too, feel free to post your tale here

There's a mailing list dedicated to small winery operations located he

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/small_winery/

Members range from those anticipating the opening of a winery to 20 year veterans.

clyde

http://www.vinic.com

http://www.peacefulbend.com

http://www.missourigrapegrowers.org

That is a real interesting way to undertake this. I have heard about people
doing that. Unfortunately we are in Montana where up until 2 years ago their
were only 2 wineries in the state. We had to do it the hard way and buy all
of the equipment up front. Still pretty limited though.
"Tom S" > wrote in message
om...
>
> "santos" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > "Doug Wagner" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > We just started a winery producing about 800 cases. How much detail
> would
> > > you like?
> > >
> >
> > i'd be very interested to hear what your start up costs were, i'm sure
> > others would too, feel free to post your tale here
>
> I am also working at close to that level. I just bottled 400 cases of
2002
> Chardonnay, and have the 2003 in the works.
>
> I didn't buy a winery. I'm working as an "alternating proprietor" at a
big,
> commercial winery. I use all their equipment (for a nominal fee) and rent
> storage space from them for my racks of barrels. This is a much more
> affordable approach than buying all that expensive equipment that just
sits
> idle for most of the year. Typical crush fee is about $300/ton, including
> pressing and settling. Barrel storage is $5.25/mo/barrel. Bottling cost
me
> about $4/case. All bottled wine remains in their bonded area until I
> withdraw it to sell it, at which time I pay the Feds their tax. I had to
> get a Basic Permit from the ATF and a wholesaler's permit from the state
> ABC.
>
> Tom S
>
>

"Steve Thompson" > wrote in message
...
> "Doug Wagner" > wrote in message
> ...
> > We just started a winery producing about 800 cases. How much detail
would
> > you like?
>
> Cool -- have you created a web site? How are you marketing your wine
sales?
>
> Steve
>
We have not created a web site yet. One of the many chores to do. We are
also doing the winery as a 2nd job till it gets going. We are in Montana
where we can NOT use the internet for direct shipping. We can self
distribute in the state though to licenced retailers. >