How today’s Pinot Noir winemakers can protect quality, improve flexibility, and adapt to a changing wine market.

Pinot Noir has never been an easy wine to make at scale. Now, the market is also changing.

• Wine demand has softened.

• Buyers are more selective.

• Younger consumers are drinking differently, want value, sustainability, distinctive flavor.

That puts more pressure on every cellar decision. This thin-skinned, delicate variety demands careful control over extraction, oxygen exposure, maturation, oak influence, temperature, movement, and sanitation. Small cellar decisions can change aroma, texture, color, freshness, and balance.

The challenge is clear: protect the elegance and character of Pinot Noir while improving cellar flexibility, production efficiency, and margin. More control in the cellar helps winemakers do both. These four practices help winemakers make better Pinot Noir with more control and less waste:

1. Build More Precision into Extraction

Pinot Noir rewards restraint. The grape has less tannin and color than many red varieties. Careful extraction helps build structure without overpowering the wine. Winemakers need enough extraction to build structure, mouthfeel, and color. Push too far, and the wine can turn bitter, heavy, or lose aromatic lift. That makes extraction a control point, not a routine.

Modern best practice means adjusting cap management, pumpovers, punch-downs, cold soak, whole-cluster use, and fermentation temperature by lot, fruit condition, and wine goal. This is especially important as buyers look for Pinot Noir that delivers character, freshness, balance, and a premium experience at an accessible price.

Modern cellar practice means setting an extraction plan for each lot before fermentation begins, then adjusting it as the wine develops.

• Track fruit condition, Brix, pH, color pickup, tannin feel, temperature, and aroma daily.

• Use that information to guide punch-downs, pumpovers, maceration time, fermentation temperature, and pressing decisions.

2. Manage Oxygen with More Intention

Oxygen management is one of the most important control points in Pinot Noir production. Too little oxygen can leave wines tight, reductive, or slow to develop. Too much oxygen can flatten aromatics, reduce freshness, and shorten the wine’s life in-bottle.

For Pinot Noir, oxygen exposure should match the wine’s intended style, price point, and release window. A fresh, fruit-forward Pinot Noir may need a different oxygen plan than a structured reserve wine. A faster-release program may need a different maturation approach than a wine built for longer aging.

The goal is to give each lot the oxygen exposure it needs to develop texture, integration, and stability without losing lift, freshness, or varietal character.

Recommended actions:

• Define the oxygen goal by lot, style, price point, and release window.

• Track dissolved oxygen, free SO₂, pH, temperature, ullage, aroma development, tannin integration, and reduction risk.

• Use that information to guide topping schedules, transfers, SO₂ additions, maturation time, movement, and blending decisions.

3. Give Each Pinot Noir Lot a Clearer Cellar Path

A single Pinot Noir program may include estate, reserve, vineyard-designate, appellation, wholesale, wine club, regional, custom, and faster-release lots. Each lot carries its own quality target, price point, maturation needs, and buyer expectations.

The goal is to keep every lot moving with purpose. Better cellar flow helps winemakers protect aroma, texture, balance, and identity while managing labor, space, cleaning, transfers, and blending with more control.

Recommended actions:

• Map each Pinot Noir lot by tier, style, release window, and production goal.

• Assign a clear maturation, monitoring, and movement plan for each lot.

• Align topping, sanitation, transfer, and blending schedules by lot priority.

• Use the most labor-intensive cellar practices where they add the most value.

4. Use Modern O₂-Permeable Vessels for Select Pinot Noir Lots

Once each Pinot Noir lot has a clear cellar path, the vessel choice should support the wine. Modern O₂-permeable vessels give winemakers another way to manage maturation with control. Flextank vessels provide consistent oxygen permeation in a neutral format. That helps protect fruit, support texture, and manage oxygen exposure without pushing the wine toward heavier oak influence. Winemakers can guide oxygen exposure, then use oak where it fits.

Flextank vessels also make the cellar easier to work. They stack, move, sample, clean, rack, and stage efficiently. That matters in tight cellars, growing programs, and earthquake-sensitive spaces.

Recommended actions:

• Identify Pinot Noir lots that need controlled oxygen exposure.

• Match Flextank vessels to fruit-forward lots, faster-release wines, private label, wholesale, regional, or select tier programs.

• Add oak adjuncts only where they serve the wine.

• Improve cellar flow with better access, easier movement, and faster sanitation.

Final Thoughts: Modernize the Method. Protect the Wine.

Great Pinot Noir depends on careful winemaking. But today’s market asks more from every lot, every cellar decision, and every production system. Winemakers have to protect elegance, texture, freshness, and identity while managing changing demand, tighter margins, labor pressure, sustainability expectations, and more diverse price points.

Modern cellar practices can help. They give winemakers better ways to make decisions by lot, style, release window, and market need. Strong Pinot Noir programs are not defined by a single method, vessel, or tradition. They are defined by how well each production choice supports the wine. That’s the opportunity: protect what makes Pinot Noir distinctive while building a more practical, flexible, and controlled path to quality.

Flextank Is Ready to Help

Are you looking to increase production, cellar efficiency, sustainability, and revenue? Let’s talk. We’re ready to help you grow and modernize your operation.

Call: +1-360-450-2694
Email: flexsales@flextank.com
Visit: www.Flextank.com

Or simply fill out the form HERE for Free Consulting, and let’s get started.

Private label wine demand is growing nationwide.

Private label wine is becoming one of the most important growth opportunities for wineries. Buyers want wines built for their customers, programs, and margins. They’re looking for winery partners who can deliver quality wines at the right price and move fast when demand changes.

Retailers want wines that stand out on the shelf.

Hospitality groups want better house wine programs.

Grocery and club store buyers want quality, consistency, and value.

A modern, flexible cellar strategy helps wineries capture that opportunity.

Private label growth can help wineries create new revenue, strengthen buyer relationships, and use cellar capacity more efficiently. But the opportunity comes with new production demands: Buyers may want different wine styles, smaller runs, and faster timelines.

Successful wineries will compete with more than available tank space. They will use modern, flexible production strategies to protect quality, control costs, and deliver the wine profiles private label buyers want. Here are four ways wineries can build a stronger private label program.

Start With the Right Private Label Partner

The strongest private label programs start before the first vessel is filled. Wineries should choose partners carefully before they commit cellar space, labor, fruit, and production time.

A grocery chain, restaurant group, resort, wine club, corporate brand, or specialty retailer may each want something different. Price point, flavor profile, varietal, packaging, timeline, quality standards, and reorder potential all matter.

The right partner helps a winery build revenue, protect production focus, and create a private label program that can grow over time. Before taking on a program, wineries should ask a practical question:

Will this opportunity create profitable, repeatable growth?

Build Flexibility Into Production Planning

Flexible production planning can be one of your biggest competitive advantages. Private label programs can change the normal rhythm of winery production:

• One partner may need a smaller run.

• Another may want a different style.

• A retailer may ask for more volume after a label performs well.

• A hospitality group may need wine ready for a specific launch date.

Before expanding private label production, review your cellar space, vessel availability, labor capacity, bottling windows, and storage plan. The goal is to produce the right wine for the right partner at the right time, without disrupting core winery operations.

Create Wines That Match Specific Market Needs

Private label buyers want more than a different label. They want wines built for a specific customer, occasion, price point, and brand promise. Private label is not just relabeling. The strongest programs start with the buyer’s market need and still reflect winery-level quality.

Private label programs let wineries apply their winemaking expertise with more precision. Build the wine around the target customer, sales channel, and occasion.

• Retail buyers may want a fresh white with strong shelf appeal.

• Restaurant groups may want a versatile red that works by the glass.

• Resorts may want seasonal releases tied to the guest experience.

• Wine clubs may want something exclusive that feels different from the core portfolio.

Each program may call for a different balance of flavor, freshness, oak influence, aroma, texture, and consistency. The label may belong to the buyer, but the quality still reflects the cellar.

Add Flexibility to Your Vessel Strategy

Private label growth can fill cellar space fast. One buyer may want a smaller run. Another may want a different style. A successful private label program may need more volume sooner than expected. Prepare your cellar in advance so you can use space efficiently and grow with private label demand.

Flextank O₂-permeable vessels help modern wineries add flexible capacity for fermentation, maturation, storage, and blending. Winemakers can create specific wine profiles, preserve fresh fruit character, and produce limited runs.

Flextank vessels help wineries:

• Increase usable cellar capacity.

• Support faster production planning.

• Lower water and cleaning demands.

• Control oak influence with alternatives such as FlexStaves.

• Adapt vessel use as programs change.

Final Thoughts: Turn Private Label Growth Into Winery Growth

Private label wine demand gives wineries a practical path to new revenue in a changing market. Buyers want wines that feel specific, differentiated, and built for their audience.

Wineries that can respond quickly with quality, consistency, and flexibility will be in a better position to capture that demand. It begins by selecting the right partners for your winery. Build in flexible production planning. Create wines around specific market needs. Choose modern vessel strategies that make better use of cellar space, protect quality, and adapt as programs grow.

Flextank O₂-permeable vessels help modern wineries add flexible capacity for fermentation, maturation, storage, and blending. For wineries building private label programs, Flextank vessels can help turn demand into profitable, repeatable growth.

Flextank Is Ready to Help You Grow

Looking to improve production efficiency and revenue?

Let’s talk. We’re ready to help you grow with ease.

Call: +1-360-450-2694

Email: flexsales@flextank.com

Visit: www.Flextank.com

Or simply fill out the form HERE for Free Consulting.

And create those beverages faster, with more efficient production.

What happens when your best customers decide to drink half as much wine — but spend twice as much per bottle?

For decades, the wine industry ran on volume. More cases, more labels, more shelf space. But that playbook is being rewritten. Across every major demographic, consumers are steadily pulling back on how much wine they drink. Though research shows they are spending significantly more on every bottle they choose.

This sweeping shift toward premiumization has completely transformed what the market rewards. Today's wine buyer prioritizes chemical transparency, environmental ethics, authentic flavor, and pristine quality. Mass-produced, heavily manipulated table wine is losing ground fast.

Competing on volume alone is no longer a winning strategy. Today's most profitable growth opportunities come from consumers who drink less wine but spend more on quality. The following four strategies will help wineries capture that market.

1. Shift Production Toward Lower-ABV and Fresh Varietals

Demand for heavily extracted, high-alcohol reds is softening as consumers increasingly view what they eat and drink through a wellness lens. The modern premium wine drinker now demands wines that taste bright, fresh, approachable and alive.

Wineries that adapt are expanding their portfolios to include naturally lower-ABV options, crisp whites, and aromatic sparkling wines. One of the fastest-growing segments is the "chilled red" lighter-bodied, fruit-forward styles. Crafting these styles demands technical precision: shorter maceration times, temperature-controlled fermentations, and a winemaking philosophy that prizes lively fruit and crisp acidity over heavy wood tannins.

2. Transition to Conscious, Sustainable Agricultural Practices

Premium consumers don't just buy wine — they buy the story behind it. And increasingly, that story needs to include how the land is being treated. Transparency is the new luxury. Wineries willing to pull back the curtain on their vineyard practices are building the kind of brand loyalty that volume-focused producers simply cannot buy.

Environmental ethics are no longer a niche selling point. They are a prerequisite for serious placement on premium retail shelves and top wine bar lists.

Pursuing organic, biodynamic, or certified sustainable certifications signals to buyers that your winery shares their values.

Eliminating synthetic pesticides, reducing your carbon footprint, and showcasing genuine biodiversity in the vineyard are powerful differentiators that resonate deeply with the "drink better" consumer.

3. Implement Single-Serve and Waste-Reducing Formats

Drinking "less" creates a practical problem for consumers: a standard 750ml bottle is often more wine than one or two people want to open on a weeknight. Once uncorked, the clock is ticking. And oxidation doesn't care how premium the liquid is.

Forward-thinking wineries are solving this by putting premium-tier wine into right-sized formats. High-quality half-bottles (375ml) and premium canned singles allow consumers to enjoy a single luxury-tier glass without committing to an entire bottle. Without any sacrifice in quality perception.

For producers, the economics are compelling. Smaller formats often command a higher profit margin per ounce while dramatically reducing consumer waste and hesitation at the point of purchase.

4. Focus on Fruit Expression and Winemaking Precision

Today's premium wine drinker has made one thing clear: they want to taste the vineyard, not the winemaker's toolbox. Varietal character. Terroir. Freshness. Authenticity wins. Manipulation loses.

That verdict forces a hard look at traditional maturation.

Oak barrels carry real costs including: flavor variability, evaporation loss, sanitation headaches, and significant capital overhead. For wineries chasing precision and consistency, those variables compound quickly.

Leading wineries are responding. Many are now complementing or replacing barrel programs with Flextank oxygen-permeable vessels. Flextank mimics the exact oxygen transmission rate of a second-year oak barrel, and delivers micro-oxygenation benefits while remaining completely flavor neutral. Winemakers control oxygen exposure on their terms. Oak influence only enters when the wine calls for it. Precision. Consistency. Fruit expression. Profitability. Flextank delivers all four.

The Bottom Line

The "drink less, but better" movement isn't a trend. It's the new reality of the wine market.

Today's premium buyers consume less wine, but they demand more from every bottle. Consumers want quality, authenticity, sustainability, and a clear connection to how their wine is made. Wineries that adapt to these expectations will capture market share. Those that don't will struggle to remain relevant.

The path forward is clear: develop fresher, more expressive wines, embrace sustainable production practices, offer packaging formats that match modern lifestyles, and use precision winemaking tools that improve quality while controlling costs.

Flextank helps wineries make that transition. By combining production efficiency with winemaking precision, wineries can reduce overhead, strengthen sustainability efforts, and consistently produce the premium wines today's consumers are willing to pay for.

Flextank Is Ready to Help You Grow

Looking to improve production efficiency and revenue?

Let’s talk. We’re ready to help you scale with ease.

Call: +1-360-450-2694

Email: flexsales@flextank.com

Visit: www.Flextank.com

• Or simply fill out the form HERE for Free Consulting.

• And create those beverages faster, with more efficient production.

50% Off Domestic Shipping, 20% Off Flextanks Helps Cideries and Wineries Modernize, Scale Production, Increase Revenue, and Improve Margins.

Vancouver, Wash. – May 18, 2026 – Flextank, the leader in advanced Oxygen-permeable vessels for wine, cider, spirits and craft beverage fermentation and storage, today announced the company will provide 50-percent off all domestic USA shipping, 20-percent off all one-time orders of selected large Apollo, Stacker, Dexter, and Eco Flextank vessels, and 90-Day No Payment / No Interest Financing for a limited time through June 30, 2026.

The Flextank SpringFORWARD Program is designed to support smaller-mid-sized cideries and wineries that are working to compete better, develop more creative beverages that meet shifting consumer demand, and increase production and revenue in today’s evolving beverage market.

During the Flextank SpringFORWARD Program, the company will provide half-off domestic shipping, and a 20-percent discount for all one-time orders of new vessels over $5,000 within the Domestic USA. The SpringFORWARD Program also provides easy 90-Day No Payment / No Interest Financing to eligible Wineries and Cideries on all orders over $2,500 through June 30, 2026.

“Wineries and cideries are stretched thin by competition, changing market conditions, labor availability, and rising tariffs on fermentation, production and storage vessels. This new Flextank SpringFORWARD Program helps craft beverage operations reduce costs and gear up production, create faster batch turnaround, and improve margins,” said Jonathan Smalley, Flextank CEO. “Our award-winning Flextanks give growing wineries and cideries a modern way to reduce barrel costs, expand beverage lines, and drive new revenue.”Flextanks Also Help

Reduce Water Use 30-70 Percent

Flextanks are becoming the go-to alternative vessels for cideries and wineries that are also looking to reduce water usage. Flextanks drastically reduce water use via:

• Reduced chemical and rinse water use: little to no chemical cleaning is required.

• Faster turnaround: Vessels can be turned over faster, meaning fewer re-cleaning cycles.

• Reduced prolonged cleaning operations: eliminates deep groove scrubbing and rinsing.

• Simplified processes for smaller operations: reduced, unnecessary over-cleaning and water waste.

Flextanks Increase Craft Beverage Efficiency, Production and Revenue  

Flextanks are specifically engineered to provide higher production capability in less space, with efficient, controllable, sustainable production. This production efficiency helps craft beverage makers reduce bottle costs, boost the capacity of their barrel rooms, turnaround batches faster, and increase revenue.

The revolutionary Flextank Apollo Vortex vessels also help wineries and cideries reduce fermentation time. and increase beverage production turnaround. The Flextank Vortex (egg-shaped) Apollo vessels use the naturally occurring CO2 and heat evolution to simulate upward movement. This creates a vortex of healthy, performing yeast – and produces producing complex craft beverages more quickly and efficiently.

“Flextank is dedicated to closely support cidery and winery modern operation, sustainability and growth in today’s market. We developed the Flextank SpringFORWARD Program and provided these one-time discounts to help operators increase capacity, and become more efficient, productive and revenue generating now,” added Mr. Smalley. “Our Flextank vessels are produced in the USA and shipped directly from the factory to beverage makers all over the country. This eliminates tariffs and gives cideries and wineries the best modern production vessels available on the market at the best price.”

Flextank 50 Percent Off Shipping Program 20 Percent Off Large Vessels

The Flextank SpringFORWARD Program is available now, and includes all Flextank Stacker 120, 240 and 300-gallon vessels, the Apollo 230-gallon “egg” vessels, Dexter 80, 120, 200, 300, and 500-gallon vessels, and the Eco 70, 200, and 300-gallon vessels.

Flextank will pay up to 50 percent of total domestic shipping costs in the Continental United States and 20 percent off the list price for one-time orders of these new vessels on orders over $5,000, through June 30, 2026. Flextank will also provide easy 90-Day No Payment / No Interest Financing to eligible Wineries and Cideries on all orders over $2,500. For more information, contact: flexsales@flextank.com or call +1-360-450-2694.

About Flextank

Flextank advanced Oxygen-permeable polyethylene tanks and hoppers are the leading wine, cider, spirits and craft beverage fermentation and storage solutions available worldwide. Flextanks deliver efficient, sustainable production. Flextanks are: cost effective, controllable (breathe like a barrel), award-winning, and proven (for more than 25 years). Over 5,000 craft beverage operations around the world trust Flextank to deliver modern craft beverage production. Flextanks are made in the USA and have a lifetime guarantee. To learn more about Flextank and its products, visit: www.flextank.com. Phone +1-360-450-2694.

Top Line

Water is one of the most critical—and increasingly scrutinized—resources in modern winemaking.

From cleaning tanks and floors to maintaining oak barrels, cellar operations can consume thousands of gallons daily. With rising sustainability expectations and operational costs, reducing water use is not just good for the environment, it is good for business.

• Water conservation is becoming an issue in modern winemaking.
• In the past, much of the conversation centered around vineyard irrigation.
• Today, one of the most overlooked areas of water consumption occurs in the cleaning and maintenance of barrels.
• Small efficiency improvements per barrel can translate into thousands of gallons saved per year in your operation.

The Challenge

• Traditional oak barrels, while prized for the unique flavor addition and maturation with O2, also come with a significant sustainability issue: water usage.
• Cleaning and sanitizing an oak barrel typically require several high-impact water events. These generally include: a lees dump and hot-water rinses, followed by a sanitation phase using steam, ozone, or a citric acid neutralization conditioning rinse.
• Traditional multi-step oak barrel cleaning cycles remain highly water-intensive and can consume between 20 and 60 gallons of water per barrel.
• In cases of heavy tartrate buildup or microbial contamination, “deep cleaning” protocols may require a full-volume soak of 60 gallons or more. Multiply that across hundreds of barrels.

The Solution: Three Practical Ways Cut Water Usage

1. Rethink Oak Barrel Cleaning Practices

Oak barrels are essential for many premium wines, but they are also one of the biggest water consumers in the cellar. This process can use dozens of gallons per barrel, especially when dealing with heavy tartrate buildup or microbial concerns.

Traditional cleaning methods involve:

• High-pressure rinsing
• Repeated flushing cycles
• Chemical washes followed by extensive rinsing

How To Reduce Water Use

• Use targeted cleaning tools instead of open spray methods
• Adopt foam or gel-based cleaners that cling to surfaces and require less rinsing
• Implement dry pre-cleaning steps (scraping, brushing) before introducing water
• Standardize cleaning protocols to avoid overuse “just to be safe”

2. Upgrade Cleaning Systems and Processes

A large portion of cellar water use comes from inefficient cleaning methods. Work to change your methods and track your water usage per task (barrel cleaning, tank cleaning, floor washdowns).

Processes That Reduce Water Use

• Use high-efficiency spray nozzles that reduce flow and maintain pressure
• Consider automated cleaning systems (CIP) for tanks and lines
• Invest in trigger-controlled hoses instead of free-flowing water.
• Digitally track your area-zone cleaning schedules to prevent repeated washdowns.
• Shut off hoses between uses.

3. Utilize Alternative Vessels Such as Flextanks

Alternative vessels such as O2-permeable Flextanks are gaining fast traction with wineries as the best fermentation and storage substitute for oak barrels.

Unlike oak barrels, Flextanks:

• Have smooth, non-porous interiors.
• Eliminate deep absorption issues that demand frequent, intensive washing.
• Have reduced need for chemicals.
• Require minimal scrubbing or pressure washing, and have faster rinse cycles.
• Require significantly less cleaning time and water.

How Flextanks Reduce Water Use

• Typical cleaning of a Flextank can be completed with a quick rinse with a light cleaning solution if needed.
• This can reduce water usage by 70–90% per vessel, depending on the winery’s previous barrel protocols.
• Many wineries are adopting a hybrid approach, using oak for specific programs while shifting a portion of their production to Flextanks.
• This not only reduces water use but also lowers labor and maintenance costs.

The Bottom Line

Reducing water use in the cellar does not require sacrificing cleanliness or wine quality. Wineries can significantly reduce water consumption while improving efficiency and sustainability by:

• Improving how oak barrels are cleaned
• Upgrading cleaning tools and processes
• Integrating alternative O2-permeable vessels such as Flextanks where appropriate

In an industry rooted in agriculture and environmental stewardship, and with situational downturns in snowpack and water runoff, smarter water use is not just a trend, it is the future.

For wineries looking to reduce water consumption, improve operational efficiency, and prepare for future sustainability demands, reevaluating cellar practices is critical. Barrel cleaning represents a significant opportunity for improvement.

Flextank Is Ready to Help You Grow

Looking to reduce water consumption, improve production and revenue? Let us talk. We are ready to help you scale with ease.

• Call: +1-360-450-2694
• Email: flexsales@flextank.com
• Visit: www.Flextank.com

Winery Resource Page Gives Wineries new ways to reduce operational expenses,  increase award possibilities, revenue, efficiency and productivity

Vancouver, WA – July 8, 2025 – Flextank, the leader in advanced oxygen-permeable polyethylene tanks for wine, cider, spirits and craft beverage fermentation and storage, today announced the company has developed a new Winery Resource Page that provides wineries with information, tips, and methods to help them increase production and reduce costs. 

The new Winery Resource Page provides online tools, expert guidance, and winery production  and project consultation tips that are designed to help winery operators reduce their OpEx overhead and increase their productivity, sustainability, and margins.

The information guides winemakers through common challenges and requirements they face such as: How to increase production space, sustainability, efficiency, cuvee turnaround, cleaning, portability and productivity. These tools will help winery CFOs and winemakers: 

• Estimate in real-time a Winery’s projected production, OpEx costs and potential revenue.  

• Assess wine production vessel requirements by gallons or liters.  

• Reduce overhead and OpEx costs, and expand capacity and production efficiency.  

• Create new, sustainable long-term production and storage solutions.  

The Winery Resource Page allows the winemaker or vineyard operator to send Operational Expense calculations to their email address, or contact Flextank directly for additional free consultation. The Winery Resource Page is available HERE.

“Wineries and vineyard operators are under margin pressure now, and have asked us for insight on how to help them reduce their expense line and bring-to-market more sustainable, market driven beverages more quickly,” said Flextank CEO, Jon Smalley. “For 25 years, Flextank has helped wineries reduce costs, create award-winning beverages, and increase revenue.”

The Winery Resource Page also includes new information on how Vortex (egg-shaped) Apollo Vessels are the best shape for producing complex wines more quickly and efficiently. Apollo Vortex Vessels speed natural fermentation and increase beverage production turnaround. Apollo Vessels use the naturally occurring CO2 and heat evolution to simulate upward movement. At the top, the fermenting wine hits the cooler outside of the vessel and is drawn down the outer sides. This creates a vortex of healthy, performing yeast.

“Many wineries are struggling with increasing costs and shifts in customer demand. The new  Winery Resource Page information and calculators are designed to help winery operators  become more efficient, productive and revenue generating,” added Mr. Smalley. “We’ve  created ideas to help winemakers reduce barrel and labor costs, and increase capacity.”

About Flextank  

Flextank advanced oxygen-permeable polyethylene tanks and hoppers are the leading wine,  cider, spirits and craft beverage fermentation and storage solutions available worldwide. Flextanks are made in the USA and have a lifetime guarantee. Flextanks help beverage makers  have affordable, efficient operations. More than 5000 craft beverage production operations  worldwide rely on Flextank for controllable, sustainable production. To learn more about  Flextank and its products, visit: www.flextank.com. Phone +1-360-450-2694.

Flextank Provides Winery Conference Attendees with Methods to Cut Costs and Increase Margins and Revenue

April 1, 2025 - Flextank, the leader in advanced oxygen-permeable polyethylene tanks for wine, cider, spirits, and craft beverage fermentation and storage, successfully presented innovative ways for wineries to reduce operational expenses (OpEx), expand production, increase efficiency, and improve revenue and margins at the WiVi Central Coast Conference & Tradeshow, held on March 13 in Paso Robles. At Booth #227, Flextank’s team of winemaking experts engaged with winery professionals, demonstrating how Flextank solutions can help lower costs and enhance productivity. 

“For more than two decades, blind taste trials have confirmed that there is no difference in the quality or oak profile of wines produced in a Flextank compared to a traditional oak barrel,” said Flextank CEO, Jonathan Smalley. “Winemakers using Flextanks enjoy the benefit of producing award-winning wines at a fraction of the cost of using traditional oak barrels. With today’s economic pressures on the wine industry, it’s time to rediscover a proven, more sustainable technology that creates quality wines.”

During the event, Flextank provided free online tools, expert guidance, and consultation tips to help winery operators reduce OpEx overhead and increase productivity, sustainability, and margins. These tools assist winery CFOs and winemakers in:

• Estimating real-time winery production, OpEx costs, and potential revenue.

• Assessing Flextank and barrel requirements by gallons or liters.

• Reducing overhead and OpEx costs while expanding capacity and production efficiency.

• Developing custom, durable long-term production and storage solutions.

Winery professionals were able to access the Real-Time Flextank Revenue + Operational Expense Calculator at the WiVi Booth #227, as well as online. Users could send their results directly to their email via the interactive calculator. Additionally, attendees obtained free downloadable checklists and content designed to help their wineries increase productivity and revenue.

About WiVi Central Coast Conference & Tradeshow

The conference and tradeshow featured sessions by top industry leaders on regional viticulture, enology, and DTC topics, providing attendees with insights into new trends and technology. For more information, visit: https://wivicentralcoast.com/.

About Flextank

Flextank’s advanced oxygen-permeable polyethylene tanks and hoppers are the leading wine, cider, spirits, and craft beverage fermentation and storage solutions available worldwide. Flextanks help beverage makers achieve affordable, efficient production. More than 5,000 wineries, cideries, and craft beverage production operations worldwide rely on Flextank for efficient, controllable, sustainable production. Flextanks are cost-effective, sustainable, efficient, controllable, and award-winning. Flextank is based in Vancouver, Washington, with product dealers around the world. To learn more about Flextank and its products, visit: https://flextank.com/.

Modern winemaking demands storage solutions that blend innovation with practical results. Both Flextanks and concrete eggs offer excellent fermentation dynamics and temperature control, yet Flextanks provide clear advantages in cost, flexibility, and maintenance. Here’s a closer look at why Flextanks are the smarter choice.

Cost Efficiency

When storing 450 gallons, Flextanks come in at around $1870, whereas concrete eggs typically exceed $10,000. This significant difference makes Flextanks the clear choice for winemakers looking to maximize efficiency without sacrificing quality. By opting for a Flextank, you can free up resources for other critical areas of your winery.

Fermentation and Temperature Control

Both options support robust yeast circulation and natural internal convection, ensuring a consistent fermentation. However, Flextanks provide the same benefits without the hefty price tag or the permanence of concrete eggs. Additionally, their seamless construction makes precise temperature control more predictable and manageable.

Mobility and Wine Transfer

A major advantage of Flextanks is their inherent mobility:

• Ease of Movement: Flextanks can be easily relocated, offering flexibility in layout and operations.
• Simplified Wine Transfers: Their design simplifies the process of moving wine, reducing the risk of contamination and minimizing oxygen exposure during transfers.

In contrast, the fixed nature of concrete eggs may restrict operational flexibility, particularly in dynamic production environments.

Cleaning and Sanitation

Maintaining high sanitation standards is crucial:

• Flextanks: Their smooth, non-porous surfaces allow for straightforward cleaning without the need for extensive pretreatment, effectively reducing the risk of residual buildup.
• Concrete Eggs: May require more rigorous cleaning procedures to avoid potential cleaning impediments.

Micro-Oxygenation Benefits

Flextanks offer a controlled level of micro-oxygenation, similar to what you’d find in traditional wooden barrels. This subtle oxygen exposure can help enhance the complexity of the wine, providing a modern solution that still honors time-tested winemaking practices.

Conclusion

Flextank Helps La Mesa Vineyards Deliver Award-Winning Wines

Sweep Gold Medals At Three Prestigious California Wine Competitions 

La Mesa Vineyards uses Flextank vessels to capture gold medals 
and create top small-batch artisan-style wines of exceptional quality.

Vancouver, Wash. – August 06, 2024 – Flextank, the leader in advanced oxygen-permeable polyethylene tanks for wine, cider, spirits and craft beverage fermentation and storage, today announced one of the company’s premier Flextank customers, La Mesa Vineyards, recently swept prestigious industry wine awards in three separate competitions.

The Amador County, Calif.-based La Mesa Vineyards received several Gold, Double Gold and Best-in-Class awards at the respected 2024 Peninsula Underground "Under the Radar" California wine competition, 2024 Orange County Fair Commercial Wine competition, and at the 2024 California State Fair competition.

Competition is Fierce. Flextank Helps Deliver Award-Winning Results.

With nearly 5,000 wineries in California, the competition for consumer preferences and loyalty is fierce. Winemakers must rely on steady, solid methods and vessels in their creation of an awarded, and highly demanded beverage from the simplicity of a small fruit.

For La Mesa Vineyards, the Flextank advanced oxygen-permeable polyethylene tanks were an essential element in the creation of their award-winning wines in all processes: from crush to fermentation to bottling.

In the 2024 Peninsula Underground "Under the Radar" California wine competition, La Mesa’s award-winning wines included: La Mesa 2023 Muscat Canelli: Double Gold, Best Muscat; La Mesa 2023 Chardonnay: Double Gold, Best Chardonnay; La Mesa 2022 Soleil: Gold, Best Value; and La Mesa 2022 Zinfandel: Gold, Best Zinfandel.

La Mesa Vineyards also won two major awards at the 2024 Orange County Fair Commercial Wine Competition. At 96 points, the La Mesa 2023 Chardonnay received the highest score among all 2,500 wines entered in the competition, receiving both a Double Gold and a Best of Class award.

Also, La Mesa Vineyards was decorated with two major awards at the 2024 California State Fair: The La Mesa 2020 Primitivo received Double Gold, with 99 points, "Best of California"; and the La Mesa 2020 Barbera received Gold, with 95 points.

Previously, La Mesa Vineyards won Gold Medals at the largest competition in North America, the 2024 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. La Mesa took the Double Gold with the 2020 Tierra GSM, and Gold on its 2020 Primitivo, and 2021 Syrah and Mourvedre wines.

"As a relatively new winery to Amador County, we're entering our wines in the big California wine competitions for the very first time,” said La Mesa Vineyards owner-winemaker, Côme Laguë. “All the early work we have done to research clones, innovations in winemaking techniques, and using our Flextank technology are paying off. We've benefited from encouragement from our family and friends during years marked by drought, wildfires, frost events, lockdowns and generally tough business conditions. So, it's gratifying to emerge from all that, placing among the very best in the state by an expert panel of judges."

Flextank Helps Wineries Increase Efficiency, Production and Revenue   

Flextank vessels are individually designed to have an adjustable oxygen-permeable surface area-to-volume ratio and related wall thickness and configuration. These superior qualities make Flextanks ideal for craft beverage production – from stem to glass.

Flextanks are also engineered to provide higher production capability in less space and produce efficient, controllable, stackable, sustainable production. This production efficiency helps craft beverage makers boost the capacity of their barrel rooms, reduce bottle costs and increase revenue.

“Many craft beverage makers are in a tight bind now. They need to both reduce overhead costs and increase production,” said Jon Smalley, Flextank CEO. “Flextank helps craft wineries assess and thereby reduce their current expenses, increase their ROI, better utilize their space, increase labor efficiency, expand operations, and increase margins.”                                                                  

Wineries, Cideries and Craft Beverage Makers Can Calculate Benefits

Flextank also provides Craft Beverage Makers a convenient way to assess production costs, estimate efficiency, map out how to expand capacity, improve output and revenue, and send the results directly to their email – via a free Production and Operational Expense (OpEx) Calculator. The Real-time Revenue and Operational Expense Calculator is available HERE (https://flextank.com/send-my-barrel-calculation-results/).

About La Mesa Vineyards

La Mesa Vineyards was founded in 2011, in the higher altitude and granitic red soil of Amador County’s Shenandoah Valley. The winery focuses on creating small-batch artisan style wines of exceptional quality. For more information, visit the La Mesa Vineyards website at https://lamesavineyards.com/.

About Flextank 

Flextank advanced oxygen-permeable polyethylene tanks and hoppers are the leading wine, cider, spirits and craft beverage fermentation and storage solutions available worldwide. Flextanks help beverage makers have affordable, efficient production. More than 4000 craft beverage production operations worldwide rely on Flextank for efficient, controllable, sustainable production. To learn more about Flextank and its products, visit: www.flextank.com. Phone +1-360-450-2694.