The sanitation and cleaning processes you use to maintain your winemaking systems directly impact your final product as well as your bottom line. Proper steam winery sanitation can significantly reduce wine’s microbial load while preventing cross-contamination, maximizing safety and quality. This blog post will discuss the importance of investing in proper sanitation and steam cleaning and why more businesses in the wine industry are moving toward steam-powered solutions.
Sanitation and Preserving Wine Quality
Fermentation is an essential step in the winemaking process. During this time, the wine ages and develops its unique taste. Any contamination that occurs at this stage could compromise the integrity of the wine’s flavor, especially the spread of bacteria, molds, and yeasts that thrive in moist environments.
Some specific contamination risks include:
The introduction of competing strains of yeast during fermentation through unclean equipment
Zygosaccharomyces, Saccharomyces, Brettanomyces, and other types of yeast that cause spoilage
Acetobacter, Pediococcus, Lactobacillus, Oenococcus, and other forms of contaminating bacteria
As wine products age, the risk of contamination and taste spoilage increases, which can have a negative impact on your customers and your business. Unsanitized equipment is often the culprit in these cases, as microorganisms—with the exception of fruit flies—need a vector to move them from surface to surface. However, potential vectors may include everything from unsanitized tools or systems to unclean HVAC systems and floor staff.
First, steam is highly pressurized and generates high temperatures, both of which combine to serve as a natural type of disinfectant to kill any microorganisms present. Specifically, steam cleaning uses temperatures exceeding the 185 °F minimum to effectively prevent contamination that can lead to spoilage. It also does not leave behind any harmful chemicals or residue like other cleaners, keeping your wine’s flavor profile intact while boosting overall safety in the given operating environment.
Steam cleaning works for all types of parts and components, including bottles, barrels, fillers, tanks, and filters. Many wineries rely on steam-cleaning processes and equipment to maintain the unique characteristics of their wine products, showcasing the overall effectiveness of these systems in preserving wine quality and integrity and protecting the reputations of their respective wineries.
Contact Electro-Steam for Winery Steam Generators
Since our company’s establishment in 1952, Electro-Steam has developed into a leading supplier of reliable steam-cleaning solutions for applications across industries. Our top-quality winery steam generators work to maintain adequate sanitation through innovative technologies and processes, including our Menikini® Steam Master and Steam Master Wine equipment.
Whether for cleaning barrels, tanks, bottling systems, or other winery equipment, you’ll benefit from the use of steam cleaning over other less reliable (or potentially unsafe) cleaning methods. We’ll assess your winery’s specific requirements and direct you toward the right equipment while facilitating proper installation to help you get the most out of your solution.
Contact us today to learn more about our offerings and discover what we can do to improve your winery’s sanitation and cleaning processes.
Winemaking is a sensitive process that’s subject to many factors from grape varietals, to fermentation details, to the wood used in aging barrels. Sanitation is also an important contributor to wine flavor, quality, and safety. Following proper maintenance and cleaning practices helps ensure the finished product meets winemaker and consumer expectations.
While there are several ways to keep barrels, vessels, and other equipment clean, steam sanitization stands out as an efficient and safe method. Here, we’ll look at the ways in which wineries can use steam for cleaning and the advantages of investing in steam generation equipment for winery sanitation.
Maintaining Wine Equipment
As in many other industries where precision operations and product quality are paramount, winemaking involves specialized equipment that must be properly maintained. Part of the maintenance process is cleaning and sanitizing wood barrels, stainless steel vine vessels, bottling lines, and flexible tubing. This helps to protect complex wine flavors and prevent entire batches from spoilage or sub-par quality. As a result, equipment stays in top condition for longer, and the risk of losing income due to a failed product decreases.
Regular sanitization is a critical part of the winemaking process in order to remove residue, debris, tannins, and impurities that can affect wine taste and quality. It’s important to clean barrels after every full discharge, and to clean unused barrels every one to two years to deodorize and remove any lingering bacteria or contaminants. Stainless steel tanks, bottling equipment, flexible tubing, and other equipment also need regular deep cleaning.
Hot water washing is a traditional cleaning method. Unfortunately, it is not always effective because the water doesn’t get into all areas of barrels and tanks. What’s more, temperatures may be insufficient to kill harmful or undesirable yeast, molds, and microbes. Even high pressure hot water may miss residues or sediment that has built up.
Chemical agents such as chlorine bleach, potassium and sodium metabisulfite, and even ozone can be effective. However, strong acids, bases and toxic compounds are harsh on equipment, unpleasant or dangerous for employees, and require thorough and careful rinsing to remove any trace of residue. Chemicals not only impact flavors and product quality, but they can be unsafe to consume. Beyond this, chemical washing processes are water intensive and risk damage to the equipment if they remain in contact with it too long or are improperly diluted. Stainless steel in particular can pit or discolor with prolonged exposure to certain chemicals.
So what’s a better solution? Dry saturated steam.
The Role of Electric Steam Generators
Steam sanitization offers an effective, efficient alternative to hot water and chemicals that is also eco-friendly. Dry saturated steam reaches high temperatures quickly and gets to all cleanable surfaces in barrels, tubing, and tanks without causing pitting, corrosion, or other damage. It can even remove tartrate from barrel walls and penetrate the wood to kill harmful molds and bacteria.
Unlike standard wet steam, dry steam holds less than 5% moisture when it reaches saturation temperature. Liquid water in the steam is converted to vapor, so moisture-sensitive equipment stays dry and corrosion risk is minimal. An electric dry steam generator can reach temperatures above 200°F, which is far higher than most pathogens can survive.
Portability: With an on-board water tank, steam generator units are available when and where they’re needed without removing or dismantling equipment.
On-Board Water Tank: Unlike boiler-fed systems that may require protective additives or other agents that can be transmitted into the cleaning steam, our generators use a built-in tank to create a continuous supply of dry steam from plain water.
Versatility: Clean wooden barrels, stainless steel tanks, flexible tubing, and mixed-material equipment with one simple cleaning tool.
Environmentally Friendly: Dry steam cleaning uses less water than traditional methods because smaller quantities of water are converted to steam, and rinse water is reduced or eliminated.
No chemicals: Steam is a powerful cleaner without the need to add bleach or other harmful chemicals. Steam is also residue-free so traces of cleaners don’t contaminate equipment or wine.
Efficiency: Dry steam reaches high temperatures to quickly kill pathogens and break down tartrates and other accumulated wastes from the fermenting process. Surfaces also dry quickly after steam cleaning, so they are ready for use sooner.
At Electro-Steam, we carry a selection of dry steam generator equipment and accessories that make it simple to establish a process and routine for cleaning and maintaining winemaking equipment. Our winery steam generators are available with different power ratings and water tank capacities, and have these user-friendly features:
High- and low-pressure selector so operators can easily alternate between low pressure (1.3 bar/19 psi) for use with wooden barrels or high pressure (3.5 bar/80 psi) for use with steel
Having an electric steam generator on hand in your facility makes it easy to clean equipment in place, right when the need arises. Maintain safety and protect your wine brand with the power of dry saturated steam.
Electro-Steam specializes in high-performance steam generation solutions for commercial and industrial applications. Each of our units is made in the USA and meets or exceeds ASME and CE standards.
Contact us today to learn more about our electric steam generators.
Cleaning and maintaining wine barrels is an essential part of the wine production process, as it helps preserve quality and enhances taste in wine products. The chemical compounds wineries often use to clean and maintain wine barrels can be harmful to wine processing workers and hazardous to the environment.
One safe and efficient method you can use to sanitize wine barrels is steam cleaning. This increasingly popular technique offers a safe cleaning alternative while allowing facilities to meet strict sanitation requirements enforced throughout the industry.
Effectively Eliminate Contaminants to Preserve Flavor
Steam cleaning uses high temperatures to sanitize wine barrels in lieu of chemical treatment. Temperatures within the barrel reach approximately 212 F to mitigate the growth of fungi, bacteria, and other potential contaminants.
This process can eliminate various types of pathogens that could compromise the fermentation and ripening process, such as:
Pediococcus
Brettanomyces
Acetobacter
Lactobacilli
Additionally, barrel steamer equipment can remove tartrate that can stick to barrel walls.
Steam cleaning wine barrels preserves the fragrance in wine and facilitates ripening and fermentation, both of which elevate the overall quality of the end product.
Extend the Lifespan of Wine Barrels
A barrique typically lasts for three years, but steam cleaning can extend this lifespan even further. Steam penetrates the porous wood to remove old wine residue, yeasts, and pathogens. The barrel walls can then naturally micro-oxygenate wine during refinement, optimizing the polymerization of anthocyanins and tannins in the wine.
Save Water
Steam cleaning also makes wine processing more sustainable. While conventional cleaning methods tend to use a lot of water during the cleaning process, steam cleaning uses a much smaller amount, cleaning the wine barrels within minutes.
Contact Us for Steam Generators for Cleaning Wine Barrels
If you want to safely clean and maintain your wine barrels or tanks, Electro-Steam offers some of the best steam generators available. Our steam generators produce dry saturated steam devoid of boiler additives, allowing for highly efficient and effective cleaning that doesn’t require the use of chemical solvents. Our equipment also prevents trace materials from negatively affecting the taste and fragrance of wine products.
Several key features set Electro-Steam generators apart from other generators on the market, including:
Stainless steel materials for use in electric panels and cabinets
Capability to produce units within two to three weeks
A five-year warranty on steam generator chambers and a one-year warranty on other components
Top-quality construction using the best available parts
98% efficiency without the need to pre-heat water
We’ll help you locate the ideal steam generator for your facility. Our team of experienced and knowledgeable staff will guide you through the selection process and direct you toward a solution that maximizes cleanliness and efficiency. We can develop steam generators for wine barrel cleaning and other food sanitation systems.
Contact us today to learn more about our products or with any questions, and we’ll connect you with one of our experts. You can also request a free demo of our steam cleaners for food and beverage processing applications.
Steam and ozone are common winery sanitization methods that winemakers use to keep cellars and equipment clean. Learn what to look for in an effective sanitation system, the unique features of steam vs. ozone cleaning, and why one might be better than the other.
What to Look for in Winery Sanitation
Wineries and their cellars are often vulnerable to harmful bacteria that can spoil or otherwise negatively affect wine products, which is why these facilities require proper sanitation. Effective sanitation is continuous and covers all processes and equipment, preventing spoilage organisms from spreading throughout the facility and contaminating future wine batches.
The right cleaning method will account for these organisms’ location of origin and travel paths, such as the barrel and the bottling line. Generally, the following elements are what you should seek in a winemaking sanitization system:
The ability to effectively eliminate many types of spoilage organisms and microbes
Ease of use to thoroughly sanitize various environments, systems, and processes
Eco-friendliness
Safe operation
Energy efficiency
Zero negative impact on products, workers, and facilities
Using Ozone in Winemaking
The main benefit and potential disadvantage of ozone is its lack of persistence since it is both unstable and reactive. Unlike other cleaning elements, any ozone not immediately consumed by organic oxidation will simply turn to oxygen. As a result, ozonated water doesn’t need a specialized disposal method, won’t contaminate ponds, and won’t kill beneficial organisms in biomass or septic systems.
While ozone barrel cleaning can be an effective sanitation process, ozone comes with certain disadvantages that may make it unsuitable for winemaking facilities. One downside of using ozone for winery cleaning is its potential safety hazard. Workers who come into contact with isolated ozone may experience symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and respiratory problems. Another disadvantage of using ozone for wineries is its brief half-life, as ozone quickly outgases from its water solution while in the wine barrel.
Why Steam Is Superior for Winemaking
If you want a reliable and safe method for cleaning barrels and other winery equipment, steam is one of the best solutions available. Steam efficiently eliminates the majority of harmful microorganisms by using high temperatures.
Specifically, winery steam cleaner systems use temperatures exceeding 212 °F (100 °C) for five to 10 minutes to deactivate all yeast, bacteria, and fungi in tanks, barrels, and bottling lines. Using dry steam, you can also get rid of spoilage microorganisms highly resistant to SO2, low pH, and high alcohol.
Steam sterilization reaches even the tightest spaces in wine barrels and lines, including narrow openings such as nozzles that would be difficult to reach with ozone cleaning and other methods. Dry steam is particularly beneficial for wood barrels because of its ability to penetrate up to ½” into the wood’s porous surface and kill hidden microorganisms.
Another benefit of dry steam is that it only requires half a gallon of water to clean each barrel, which translates to reduced filling times and reduced expenses. Ultimately, the dry steam cleaning technique offers the most efficient and dependable way to sanitize winemaking equipment, with the added ability to rehydrate wood barrels for wineries, distilleries, and breweries.
Contact Electro-Steam for Steam Generators
If you’re looking for a high-quality winery steam cleaner for your winery, distillery, or brewery, we’ll provide you with the right solution to meet your unique needs. Since 1952, Electro-Steam has grown into a leading provider of safe and reliable industrial steam generators and food safety sanitation systems.
Want to learn more about how barrel steam sterilizers can benefit your winemaking facility or processes? You can contact us today to speak with one of our experts and find the ideal cleaner for your application.
Winemakers must sanitize winemaking equipment properly to maintain the wine’s quality. Traditionally, winemakers relied on chlorinated materials, trisodium phosphate (TSP), and soda ash solutions to sterilize barrels and tanks. However, contemporary winemaking has shifted towards safer, more effective methods, such as winery steam. It offers a sustainable and highly effective alternative, addressing critical concerns and setting exceptional sanitation standards.
Learn more about why winemakers are adopting steam sterilization over other methods.
Elimination of Chlorinated Water for Sanitization
Traditionally, winery sanitation followed a simple path—using TSP, chlorinated solutions, or soda ash solutions to clean barrels and tanks, then washing it down with chlorinated water. However, winemakers discovered that trichloroanisole developed in the wine when specific bacteria fed on chlorinated water, resulting in contaminated ‘corked’ wine. This contamination could originate from corks but also sources in drains, barrels, tanks, and even wood and cardboard materials in cellars.
In response to this revelation, chlorine-based cleaning products were phased out. Companies pivoted towards ozone treatment and dry steam sterilization, alternatives to upholding stringent hygiene standards.
Why Steam Is Better for Winemaking
Steam cleaning has emerged as an advanced and eco-conscious technique in sanitizing wine bottles and equipment, offering numerous benefits compared to traditional cleaning methods. For example, steam can reach all areas of the barrel, including tight spots like the gaps between copper pipes and intricate crevices in stainless steel tanks. Additionally, due to their high temperatures and pressurized nature, wine barrel steamers are effective at killing hidden microorganisms and bacteria, ensuring a sanitary environment for fermenting and aging wine.
By adopting this innovative approach, wineries improve aromas and flavors, reaping the benefits of steam cleaning and improving the winemakers’ quality, sustainability, and reputation.
Steam vs. Ozone Treatment
Wineries prefer using dry steam over ozone for cleaning because it saves water and is better for the environment. Ozone cleaning involves converting ozone gas to liquid, which requires high water consumption. The ozone is also toxic in high concentrations, so workers require additional protection from exposure.
Dry steam, created at high temperatures without extra moisture, efficiently cleans wine barrels, tanks, and equipment without toxic chemicals. Steam sterilization helps wineries address both water conservation concerns and health and safety concerns.
Steam vs. Conventional Cleaning Agents
Using dry steam for cleaning minimizes the environmental impact of sanitization. Compared to traditional methods, steam cleaning uses very little water, avoids introducing chemicals into production, and produces wastewater that is not toxic. These benefits make steam sterilization an appealing choice for companies aiming to showcase their commitment to sustainability.
Unlike conventional cleaning agents that need time to work on surfaces, wine barrel steamers are much quicker, resulting in significantly less downtime and more efficient use of labor. Steam sterilization also helps wineries eliminate the risk of chemical residues affecting wine flavors.
Learn More About Our Steam Generators for Winemaking
Cleaning wine equipment is crucial in the winemaking and bottling process, and has direct impacts on the wine’s quality and consumer safety. Thorough cleaning ensures the removal of potential contaminants from previous batches, preserving the wine’s purity and complex flavors.
Steam sterilization is the best way to effectively clean wine equipment. It is safer, more efficient, and more effective than conventional cleaning agents and ozone treatments. Electro-Steam is a leading provider of steam generators, with a variety of models and accessories to meet your winery’s needs. When you get your steam generators from us, you can expect:
Standard 5-year warranty on chambers and 1-year warranty on all other components
Standard stainless steel cabinet and electrical panel
98% efficiency without feedwater preheating
2-4 week production
ASME, CRN, UL, cUL or CE compliance
Contact us to learn more about our winery steam cleaning solutions.
Proudly Manufactured in the USA 
Cleaning and maintaining wine barrels is an essential part of the wine production process, as it helps preserve quality and enhances taste in wine products. The chemical compounds wineries often use to clean and maintain wine barrels can be harmful to wine processing workers and hazardous to the environment.
Traditionally, 
Steam cleaning has emerged as an advanced and eco-conscious technique in 
Cleaning wine equipment is crucial in the winemaking and bottling process, and has direct impacts on the wine’s quality and consumer safety. Thorough cleaning ensures the removal of potential contaminants from previous batches, preserving the wine’s purity and complex flavors.