Vitis Variable Capacity Wine Fermenters

Vitis variable capacity wine fermenters can be used for both oxidative and non-oxidative wine fermentation. A “variable capacity” wine fermenter is essentially an open-top wine fermenter fitted with a sliding lid that can slide up and down the tank to accommodate variable sized batches of wine or the lid can be removed so that the fermenter becomes an open-top fermenter.  During fermenting, the tank lid can be removed to give the winemaker access to the “cap” which is formed from the wine skins on the top of the tank as the wine ferments. The winemaker, using a paddle, can stir or gently punch the cap back down into the wine in the tank then replace the lid.

Variable Capacity Wine Fermenters

Custom Configurations Available – Please Contact MTUSA

Standard features of Vitis variable capacity wine fermenters include:

  • Vitis floating lid:
    • Lid slides down tank to accommodate variable batch sizes
    • Punchdown manway: fully welded into the truncated conical top, allows for easy access into the tank for punchdown, inspection, and service

  • Vitis sidewall:
    • Interior finish: smooth 2-B interior finish, blended and made sanitary at all weldment
    • Dimple jacket: our energy-saving precision laser-welded dimple cooling jackets are hydroformed and baffled to maximize turbulence and minimize load on the glycol cooling system. Both low- and high-pressure options are available
    • Dual-action manway (round): top inswing and outswing manway for complete racking access
    • Dump-out manway (square): outswing only and located at base of sidewall allows complete cleanout of pomace and wash debris
    • Drainage sump: both sump and ports are housed in a precision engineered, removable drain screen inside the tank
    • Racking port
    • Temperature Thermowell port: includes protective temperature control shield
    • Sample port: includes a valve in the sidewall that allows easy samples to be collected

  • Vitis bottom:
    • Sloped floor: enables easier dump-out, cleaning, and other interior operations
    • Tank mounting: can be either floor-mounted or mounted on PKW’s proprietary ring stand

Vitis Variable Capacity Wine Fermenters

PKW Wine Fermenter Open-Top Spec Sheet

PKW Vitis Variable Capacity Wine Fermenter Spec Sheet (Click to download)

If you require custom variable capacity wine fermenters for your winery, please ask us for help.  We are masters of process engineering, and our highly skilled craftsmen have manufactured stainless steel tanks of all kinds and sizes for multiple industries. Regardless of your needs, you will not find higher quality equipment than the tanks manufactured by Mixing Tanks USA.


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Mixing Tanks USA is a business unit of Portland Kettle Works (“PKW”). Portland Kettle Works was founded in 2011 to build the highest quality stainless steel brewing and beverage equipment applications. Since then we have built and installed over 375 breweries and thousands of mixing and storage tanks worldwide. We’ve now expanded into producing the highest quality mixing and storage tanks for a variety of applications. If you need high-quality stainless steel mixing and storage tanks for conventional or custom applications, contact us and we can help you, too. And if you’re interested in the world’s best stainless steel craft beer and beverage brewing equipment, All Made in the USA, click here to visit Portland Kettle Works official brewing equipment website.