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RF MacDonald Co. offers sales, packaged systems design, service, installation, and parts for our customers!  

To request information or a quote, please use our Information/Quote request form.

Background:  The California Central Coast is the fastest growing grape producing region in the country. Meridian Vineyards, a member of the Beringer Wine Group is the region’s largest winery. In May of 1999 they embarked on a fast track winery expansion of their Paso Robles facility; increasing production from one to three million cases per year.
The broad scope of the project included a new crush pad and a wine storage facility consisting of 120 tanks, ranging in capacity from 7,000 to 20,000 gallons each.

Requirements: Many new pumps were required including a new 100 ton per hour “must pump” to transfer fresh crushed grapes to stainless steel fermenter tanks.  Each of these tanks needed a dedicated pump for “pump overs” and six portable cart mounted centrifugal pumps for wine transfer and also for “pump overs”.

Meridian Vineyards turned to R.F.  MacDonald Co. to assist the winery with selecting and furnishing all of these pumps for the project.  The Seepex Model 130-6L, open hopper progressive cavity pumps were provided for the “must transfer” service.  They were selected because of their low shear, solids handling characteristics and inherent reliability, proven in dozens of similar services.  The pumps were provided with dry run protection and variable frequency drives for optimum flow control.

Warren Rupp, “Sandpiper”, Model SA2-A, air operated diaphragm pumps were installed under each of the 120 storage tanks to gently pump juice over the skin cap on each tank. Since these tanks also contain solids, these pumps were selected because they can pass a 2” size solid and impart a low rate of shear due to their flapper valve design as compared to ball valve designs. 

For the higher volume 400 gpm portable transfer services, a Vertiflo Vortex impeller pump was provided.  These 4x3-10 stainless steel pumps have their impellers recessed into the casing, which minimizes contact with the product, thereby reducing unwanted solids generation. These pumps were mounted on stainless steel carts and also provided with variable frequency drives.

All the pumps were delivered to the site within the requested eight week lead-time in anticipation of the ‘99 crush which began in early September 99.  R.F. MacDonald Co. was also called on to provide on site startup and training. The project was completed on time and the ‘99 crush was processed as planned. 

As part of our complete service package, the winery contracted our technicians once again, this time prior to the 2000 crush, to assist Meridian personnel in preparing the pumps for another season.  All pumps were disassembled, cleaned, inspected and repaired where needed. Upon completion each pump was hydrostatically pressure tested and certified for operation.