Topline
For more than two decades, blind taste trials confirm there is no difference in quality or oak profile of wines produced in Flextank compared to a traditional oak barrel.
Winemakers using Flextanks enjoy the benefit of producing award-winning wines at a fraction of the cost of making wines using traditional oak barrels, while also gaining significant storage and labor savings in winery operations.
With today’s economic pressures on the wine industry, it is time to rediscover a newer but proven technology that supports the production of quality wines.
Controlled Oxygen Permeation
Flextank is designed to mimic the oxygen exchange of oak barrels without the inconsistency associated with natural wood. Unlike barrels, which vary in grain tightness and permeability, Flextank provides a predictable and uniform oxygen transfer rate, allowing winemakers to precisely control the aging process. This ensures consistent quality across batches and reduces the risk of oxidation or contamination.
Customizable Oak Influence
Traditional barrels inherently impart oak flavor, but controlling the intensity can be challenging. Flextank, in contrast, allows winemakers to tailor the oak profile by incorporating FlexStaves—carefully selected oak staves that offer a range of flavor profiles. This method not only provides greater flexibility in winemaking but also extends the lifespan of the aging vessel, eliminating the need for frequent barrel replacement.
Cost-Effective and Long-Lasting
Oak barrels are expensive, with a limited lifespan before they need to be replaced. Flextank eliminates this recurring cost by providing a durable and reusable solution that can last for decades. Additionally, the efficient design reduces storage space requirements, optimizing cellar management and reducing operational costs.
Enhanced Sanitation and Maintenance
One of the major challenges with oak barrels is their susceptibility to microbial contamination, requiring extensive cleaning and sulfuring to maintain hygiene. Flextank’s food-grade polymer construction is non-porous, making it easy to clean and sanitize, reducing labor costs and ensuring a more hygienic winemaking environment.
Sustainability and Environmental Impact
The production and disposal of oak barrels contribute to deforestation and waste. By switching to Flextank, winemakers reduce their reliance on limited oak resources, promoting sustainable practices. Additionally, Flextank’s durability and recyclability make it an environmentally responsible choice for wineries looking to minimize their ecological footprint.
Reduced Storage and Labor Costs
As wineries face economic pressures, the cost of storage, wine movement, vessel cleaning and maintenance, and the associated labor are costs that Flextank addresses by lowering these costs. Flextank provides solutions that store significantly more wine in the same footprint as traditional barrels. Flextanks do not require maintenance the way that traditional barrels do when they leak or need to be cleaned. Simply, Flextanks are lighter, easier to move, and clean than an oak barrel.
Stackable. Controllable. High Quality Results.
Flextanks deliver:
- Controllable, high quality wine production in limited space.
- Durability. Long-lasting Flextanks are lightweight, and maneuverable.
- Easy transport to operation areas, including fermentation, production, and cleaning stations.
- Increased production capacity, reduced OpEx, and increased revenue.
Your Winery Production Solution: Flextank
Flextank advanced oxygen-permeable polyethylene tanks and hoppers are the leading wine and craft beverage fermentation and storage solutions available worldwide.
Flextanks are built to provide beverage makers affordable, sustainable, efficient food-grade vessels for use across all stages of production. More than 4000 craft beverage operations worldwide rely on Flextank. Flextanks are produced in Vancouver, Washington with product dealers around the world.
