Gravity flow winemaking system and method using bridge cranes

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for gravity-assisted winemaking and other fermentation processes. In one example, a method may include using gravity to process grapes or a fermentate from a first upper location to a lower location and using a bridge crane to transfer the grapes or the fermentate to a second upper location to be further processed. In certain examples, the lower location may be located on a lower level of a building and the first and second upper locations may be located on an upper level of the building. In an additional or alternative example, the method may include using the bridge crane to translate a punch down device along orthogonal axes, including lowering the punch down device into a vessel containing a liquid on which a cap of solids floats. In certain examples, the vessel may be transferred between the upper and lower levels using the bridge crane.

1 . A method for a production area of a winery, the method comprising:
 receiving, at an upper level of the production area, a mobile crush pad containing harvested pinot noir grapes;   processing the harvested pinot noir grapes to obtain processed pinot noir grapes, including using gravity to transfer at least a portion of the harvested pinot noir grapes from the mobile crush pad to a fermentation vessel located at a lower level of the production area;   lifting, using a bridge crane, the fermentation vessel from the lower level to the upper level;   fermenting, at the upper level, the processed pinot noir grapes to obtain a fermentate;   draining a first portion of the fermentate by using gravity to transfer the first portion of the fermentate from the upper level to a settling vessel located at the lower level;   pressing a second portion of the fermentate by using gravity to flow the second portion of the fermentate through a press and to the settling vessel, the second portion of the fermentate having a higher content of solids than the first portion of the fermentate;   lifting, using the bridge crane, the settling vessel from the lower level to the upper level;   settling the fermentate by using gravity to transfer at least a portion of the fermentate from the upper level to a storage vessel located on the lower level; and   removing the fermentate from the storage vessel to produce a red wine,   wherein the upper level is a mezzanine which forms a balcony over the lower level, such that at least a portion of the upper level and at least a portion of the lower level are visible from a single vantage point.   
     
     
         2 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, at a crush pad located at a first upper location, harvested grapes;   processing the harvested grapes to obtain processed grapes, including using gravity to transfer at least a portion of the harvested grapes from the crush pad to a fermentation vessel located at a first lower location;   lifting, using one of one or more bridge cranes, the fermentation vessel from the first lower location to a second upper location;   fermenting, at the second upper location, the processed grapes to obtain a fermentate;   draining a first portion of the fermentate by using gravity to transfer the first portion of the fermentate from the second upper location to a settling vessel located at a second lower location;   pressing a second portion of the fermentate by using gravity to flow the second portion of the fermentate through a press and to the settling vessel;   lifting, using one of the one or more bridge cranes, the settling vessel from the second lower location to a third upper location; and   settling the fermentate by using gravity to transfer at least a portion of the fermentate from the third upper location to a storage vessel located at a third lower location.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein each of the processing, the draining, the pressing, and the settling comprises transferring material from an upper level of a building to a lower level of the building. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the first upper location, the second upper location, and the third upper location are located on the upper level and the first lower location, the second lower location, and the third lower location are located on the lower level. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the upper level is a mezzanine. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the upper level forms a balcony over the lower level. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the third lower location is located underneath the upper level, such that the upper level forms a ceiling above the third lower location. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the crush pad includes a plurality of wheels, such that the crush pad is movable from the first upper location. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first upper location, the second upper location, and the third upper location and at least one of the first lower location, the second lower location, and the third lower location are visible from a single vantage point. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the one of the one or more bridge cranes used to lift the fermentation vessel and the one of the one or more bridge cranes used to lift the settling vessel are a same bridge crane. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more bridge cranes comprises a plurality of bridge cranes, wherein each bridge crane of the plurality of bridge cranes comprises a bridge rail which is parallel to a bridge rail of each other bridge crane of the plurality of bridge cranes, and wherein each bridge crane of the plurality of bridge cranes is simultaneously operable to transfer material. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first upper location, the second upper location, the third upper location, the first lower location, and the second lower location is exposed to the one or more bridge cranes, and
 wherein the third lower location is not exposed to the one or more bridge cranes.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the third lower location is within a storage cellar. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising removing the fermentate from the storage vessel to produce a red wine. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the harvested grapes are pinot noir grapes. 
     
     
         16 . A method for a winery, the method comprising an ordered sequence of steps including:
 using gravity to transfer grapes from an upper level of the winery to a lower level of the winery, such that the grapes are sorted and destemmed upon reaching the lower level;   using a bridge crane to transfer the grapes from the lower level to the upper level, whereat the grapes are fermented to produce a fermentate;   using gravity to transfer the fermentate from the upper level to the lower level, such that the fermentate is drained and pressed upon reaching the lower level;   using the bridge crane to transfer the fermentate from the lower level to the upper level, whereat the fermentate is settled to separate a first portion of the fermentate from a second portion of the fermentate, the first portion of the fermentate having a lower content of solids than the second portion of the fermentate; and   using gravity to transfer the first portion of the fermentate from the upper level to the lower level.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the upper level does not extend over an entire floorspace of the winery, and
 wherein at least one side of the upper level is not enclosed by a wall, such that the upper level is exposed to a space above the lower level.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the winery is a bermed structure. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the grapes and/or the fermentate are transferred from the upper level to the lower level via one or more passages which transfers the grapes and/or the fermentate away from the upper level and to an area of the lower level which is exposed to the bridge crane. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first portion of the fermentate is transferred from the upper level to the lower level via a passage which transfers the first portion of the fermentate underneath the upper level and to an area of the lower level which is not exposed to the bridge crane.