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A memorable bottle of wine-that unique combination of flavor and bouquet-comes only from quality grapes and a well-managed fermentation process overseen by knowledgeable winemakers.
Chateau Ste. Michelle winemakers were looking for an automated temperature control system to monitor and adjust wine temperature throughout fermentation and improve overall efficiency of their Woodinville, Washington, winery. They didn't need to look far. In nearby Kirkland, they discovered Logix, a leading refrigeration controls manufacturer with broad experience in numerous site-specific control applications.
And they didn't need to look far to find Logix at work. Safeway's warehouse in Bellevue, Washington, where a Logix system controls one of the largest cold storage and produce ripening buildings in the nation, convinced Chateau Ste. Michelle staff that Logix could design features to meet their special needs. They were right.
The Logix system precisely controls tank temperatures, helps ensure wine quality, optimizes engine room operations and reduces energy consumption. Extensively programmable, the system establishes temperature setpoints for the various stages of fermentation and includes a user-friendly reporting system, with real-time color graphics and practical intuitive menus.
Logix ingenious system led to substantial improvements in winemaking operations. "You can make good wine without an automated control system, but in larger wineries it's difficult for the winemaker to keep up," said winemaker Erik Olsen. "With the Logix system, we took a leap forward . . ."
Chateau Ste. Michelle posed some interesting challenges to the Logix team:
Challenge #1: Program dependable temperature setpoints for each step of the fermentation process, monitoring and automatically adjusting the temperature 24 hours a day.
Response: Logix equipped the system with a user-programmable set of seven temperature modes assignable to each of 103 tanks – a total of 721 potential setpoints. The system sequentially schedules and implements each temperature mode automatically.
Challenge #2: Automatically develop the yeast to appropriate levels necessary for wine fermentation.
Response: Logix equipped the system with "Automatic White Fermentation Mode" automatically adjusting tank temperature from initial warmer levels favoring yeast growth, down to the cooler temperature desirable for fermentation. Yeast population level in the tank is determined by the rate of tank warming resulting from metabolic heat generated by yeast fermentation. Previously, winemakers monitored tank temperatures and set refrigeration levels manually.
Challenge #3: Prevent tank cooling overshooting. Overshooting can cause wine to ice inside the tank, where the refrigerant jackets are located.
Response: The Logix system established duty cycling setpoints that cycle the opening of the refrigerant feed solenoids when tank temperature approaches icing conditions.
After conducting a "needs discovery process" with Chateau Ste. Michelle staff, Logix created the system; Chief Software Engineer Mike Ghan worked on site to ensure a smooth startup. Installation of the Logix Winery Control System gave Olsen and his staff "new peace of mind" handling the fermentation process.
"The Logix control system flags each problem as it's happening," Olsen said. "It records an alarm and makes sure we acknowledge and correct the situation, even if we're off-site. And eliminating frequent checks and precautionary troubleshooting has freed up time to focus on the fermentation process and other aspects of winery operation."
The Logix system reports detailed information, helping analyze trends. Chateau Ste. Michelle now has a complete printed history of control strategies employed and results achieved during the fermentation process-useful in determining the highest level of functioning for the wine tanks.
Providing graphical charts of temperatures and setpoints, the system's trend logging reports can be generated for up to a one-year period. If a particular fermentation curve proves especially successful, duplicating conditions for another batch is simple.
"We can make quicker, better decisions because we have the necessary information," Olsen said. "This higher level of control can help us to enhance the wine's quality."
Ability to fine-tune tank temperatures permits more precise control of the winemaking process. The Logix system allows for temperature controls within plus-or-minus one-tenth of a degree, compared to the plus-or-minus three to five degrees in the old Chateau Ste. Michelle manual system – a 30-fold improvement in performance.
With trend logging and reporting, staff members can review activity and results and make continual adjustments. For instance, they can observe records of refrigeration activity and tank temperature response and incorporate this information into fermentation mode transitions.
Flexibility was a top priority for Chateau Ste. Michelle and flexibility is built in. Their Logix system adapted easily in the complex integration of the engine room with tank temperature control. Logix has demonstrated its value with other custom features, including barrel room temperature control and monitoring of waste water pH levels to meet county sewage requirements.
"Logix excellent service doesn't stop with the installation of the system," Olsen said. "We can count on them for fast, quality work whenever we need to adjust or upgrade the system."
Chateau Ste. Michelle staff is continually increasing quality and efficiency by linking other winery processes into the system. Logix technology has provided the winery with a tool for keeping its product competitively priced, while attracting discerning wine lovers to the Chateau Ste. Michelle label.