Delicata’s e1.2 million red wine tank farm development project takes a significant step closer to completion this week, as the 1,000 square metre roof finally goes into place. The site, which is adjacent to the winery’s no.1 fermentation hall, will be completed in time for this year’s harvest and will give the winery valuable extra space.

The actual space taken up by the project will increase the size of the winery by 2,100 square metres, approximately one third of the existing footprint. In the outside area this will include a new grape receiving area including a weigh-bridge and a second laboratory, specifically for grape analysis and improved quality control measures.

The red wine tank farm itself will be housed in a brand new purpose built fermentation hall running at a lower level alongside some of the company’s existing fermentation tanks. A parapet between the two areas will also act as a viewing platform for visitors to watch the grape crushing process from. The state-of-the-art stainless steel, temperature controlled tanks, made specifically for the vinification of quality red wines, arrived at the winery last July and are now just waiting to be put in place. They have already been used to ferment the Delicata 2008 D.O.K. red wines.

The development also includes additional office space and specialised wine making rooms as well as a new press house. The whole project hopes to be fully operational by July.