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1. WHAT IS THE GOFERMENTOR?
Introducing the first truly revolutionary device for winemaking. Traditional winemaking fermentors have changed
little in the last 500 years - the only major change being the move from open wood vats to temperature controlled
stainless-steel tanks. The GOfermentor brings 21st century technology, developed originally for the manufacture
of pharmaceuticals, to modern winemaking. This technology dramatically reduces the capital and operating cost
for a winery. No significant installation is necessary: a fermentation system can be set up within minutes in any
room. No cleaning is required which dramatically reduces labor requirements. No waste water treatment is
needed as the process uses essentially no wash water. And, finally, the GOfermentor provides better control of
fermentation parameters, minimal exposure to air, and automated cap management, thereby reliably producing a
better quality wine.
The GOfermentor currently available has a nominal volume of 1000 liters. This can be used for a batch size ranging
from 200lbs to 1 ton of grapes per run. This makes it ideal for small winery operations, and also for experimental
runs in large wineries. It can be used for either red or white wine production. In the case of red wine, the built-in
punch system manages the cap, and is also used at completion of fermentation to press out the wine. With white
wine, the punch system is used to press out the grape juice prior to fermentation and can later also be used for
bâtonage (stirring up the settled yeast).
The GOfermentor provides a more controlled environment than fermentation in an open bin. The single-use
fermentation liner is delivered clean, and the fermentation is performed entirely inside this sealed environment.
This minimizes potential contamination. Even punch-down of the cap is done without exposing the fermenting
must to air. The built-in punch system can operate automatically and it ensures that the cap remains moist while
maximum flavor and color is extracted under control of the winemaker. The punch system is coupled with a
strainer assembly to function as a very effective bladder press, eliminating the need for a dedicated press in the
winery.
Optional accessories allow the monitoring and control of temperature. This enables each fermentation to be
conducted at its optimal temperature.
The GOfermentor eliminates the high capital and installation cost of conventional stainless steel fermentation
tanks. Minimal capital and operating labor costs are obvious advantages over the traditional fixed stainless-steel
tanks. However, often overlooked is the cost and environment impact of washing. Conventional fermentation
tanks must be thoroughly washed before and after use. This requires the use of polluting detergents, physical
scrubbing, and lots and lots of rinse water. It is estimate that rinse water typically accounts for 3-7X the tank
volume. Washing a 300 gallon fermentation tank wastes 900 to 2100 gallons of fresh water. With the
GOfermentor, there is no wash water usage. The reusable outer container does not contact the must so a simple
wipe down is sufficient. The fermentation liner is delivered empty, clean, and folded. These liners are made of USP
grade biodegradable plastics which are free from plasticizers/leachables and are certified for use in pharmaceutical
operations. There is no need to rinse or clean this liner before use. After the wine is pressed out at the end of the
fermentation the liner contains the residual pomace. The entire liner can be taken to the vineyard and the pomace
dumped back as a natural fertilizer for the vines as it is not contaminated with any detergents. The empty used
liner can simply be sent to municipal landfill where it quickly biodegrades. The used liner does not contain any
hazardous or toxic chemicals.
