In South Africa, Grotto produces various types of fermenters featuring central filter columns, dimple cooling jackets, pumping over, plunging and automatic discharge systems. The entire process can be programmed to perform automatically, enabling precise control and monitoring of the fermentation process.

Standard Automated RW Fermenter

Our fermenter is the most common model supplied in South Africa and features a stainless steel tank with either an hydraulic or electrically powered juice sparger for irrigating the cap during the fermentation of red grapes. During the fermentation process, must is drawn from the tank and sent to the sparger at set intervals. The sparger is designed to maximize the spray pattern ensuring optimal colour extraction. This process can be controlled manually or remotely, and the pumping intervals can be tailored to the winemakers' preference.

A discharge blade, driven by a geared motor, is installed on the bottom of the fermenter. Once the fermentation process is complete, the blade is activated and it brings the pomace to, and discharges it out of, the specially designed tank door. This process dramatically reduces the time taken to empty the tank, allowing for greater utilization of the equipment during the fermentation season.

These two innovations, coupled with a proven dimple jacket cooling system, allow wine makers unparalleled control over their fermentation process. In larger wineries, all three processes can be automated, allowing greater precision and control over the entire fermentation cycle. The tank can also obviously be used as a storage vessel, greatly improving its utilization throughout the year.

Filter Column Equipped Fermenters

The tank employs all the technology of the standard automated RW fermenter, with the addition of a perforated central filter column.

This column allows for the static draining of free run juice from red and white grapes, and by filtering out solids allows for much greater control of the must being drawn away for pumping-over during fermentation.

As a result, the flavours, colour and aromas of the grapes can be delicately and more fully extracted.

Cap Plunging Tanks

Grotto also supplies automated cap plunging tanks (Type 3), for winemakers who prefer this method of extracting colour and flavour from red grapes.

The proven pneumatic cap plunging system allows the intervals at which intensive plunging and cap dipping take place to be set according to the varietal of grapes being processed, and the preferences of the winemaker.

The system is self cleaning and ensures that the entire cap is completely plunged in a delicate manner. As a result, full colour is extracted with fewer tannins. The pump-over system can be retained for sparging, allowing for close control over the micro-oxidation of the wine.

Once again, the operation of all systems can be automated if required.

The cap plunging tank can be specified as a fully equipped state-of-the-art fermenter. As such it enjoys all the advantages of the systems above coupled with a unique and simple device for the removal of pips from the tanks during the fermentation process.

Grotto fermenters have been built for an extensive array of customers in South Africa, including both large and small producers. It is a tried and tested system that improves winery efficiency and allows total control over the fermentation process. The systems are totally scaleable and has also been successfully employed in small boutique wineries in South Africa and across the world.