WINE
Precise and Gentle Pumping of Wine From the Cellar to the Bottler
How to prevent contamination or oxidation in wine production
The first sip after opening a bottle of wine can decide whether it will be the perfect companion for a cosy evening or go straight down the drain. Precision and care are crucial when pumping wine and throughout the production process to avoid the latter.
The northern Italian winery FERRARI F.lli Lunelli S.p.A. from Trento wanted to take advantage of everything. Therefore, they opted for a pump unit from NETZSCH Pumps & Systems to convey the wine. We will show you what to look out for when pumping wine and how to make your production more efficient.

Individual Consulting

Risks and challenges when pumping wine
Undesirable reactions such as oxidation or foaming when transferring the base wine from the secondary tank to the filler for the tirage can significantly affect the purity and flavour. They occur when the wine comes into contact with too much oxygen during pumping or is unnecessarily whirled up by mechanical influences. As a result, changes in flavour can occur. In the worst case, the entire batch can be ruined. To prevent this as well as contamination and ensure consistently high quality, selecting the right pump for conveying the wine is crucial. Another challenge is the high demand for precision when bottling the wine.
How FERRARI optimises wine production with NETZSCH pumps
The winery FERRARI has been using a rotary lobe pump with a gearbox to pump the wine for a long time, which requires oil as a lubricant, and has also faced these challenges. “Such units pose an unnecessary risk, as contamination by lubricant oil would mean that the entire production batch would have to be discarded”, explains Erwin Weber, Sales Director EMEA at NETZSCH. To make production even safer and more efficient and guarantee the highest quality in the future, the winery contacted NETZSCH, the global specialist for conveying complex media. FERRARI was looking for a pump with good suction power and precise dosing to transport the product without foaming. In addition, the wine pump needed to be mounted on a trolley like the previous model to move from tank to tank quickly. Together with the experts from NETZSCH, a pump optimally tailored to the winery's needs was found to ensure the wine was transported safely.
How to sustainably increase your efficiency when pumping wine
After initial discussions and a visit to the future site, NETZSCH recommended a TORNADO® T.Sano® all metal rotary lobe pump. These models are designed to pump sensitive media in environments with high hygiene standards. They offer a worldwide oil-free belt drive. This prevents product contamination due to the lubricant. To meet the high requirements of the winery, the rotors have also been adapted to avoid unnecessary swirling of the wine and the associated foam formation. In addition, the volume of the chambers was designed precisely for the usual flow rates of 3500 to 8000 litres per hour to avoid excessive mechanical stress on the wine and to ensure an optimum flow rate without pulsation or the occurrence of shear forces. At the same time, the pump design eliminates gaps, screws or other areas where the medium or wine could stagnate. This means using a TORNADO® T.Sano® prevents the accumulation of residues and impurities. In addition, the wine remains in constant motion. Therefore, precise dosing or flow control is guaranteed. “This offers two advantages: On the one hand, the bottles can be filled with the exact amount of liquid each time. On the other hand, wine and money can be saved this way without any effort, which optimises the production process”, says Weber.
It was also essential to FERRARI that the new pump required as little maintenance as possible for the on-site employees. The rotary lobe pump from NETZSCH offers the proven CIP process (Cleaning-In-Place) and the SIP process (Sterilisation-In-Place). This allows you to clean or sterilise your wine pump without prior disassembly in a circular or pass-through process. FERRARI is very happy with the new wine pump, as no difficulties have arisen since commissioning. “The winemakers in northern Italy were so impressed by the operating efficiency of our pump technology that they immediately ordered a second pump to integrate into the bottling processes in Trento”, summarises Weber. So, nothing stands in the way of a cosy evening with the perfect wine.
TORNADO® T.Sano® all-metal rotary lobe pump
