BEYOND BEER: WINE CERTIFIED DISPENSING
By Steph Graham / Perlick
Perlick Corporation is excited to partner with our friends at Free Flow Wines to talk about a subject we both know and love: Wine! Since 1917, Perlick has been at the forefront of bar and beverage manufacturing and technology. Being a Milwaukee-based company, many in the industry tend to think of beer dispensing and storage products when they think of Perlick. While we are proud of our Brew City roots, we have also developed a strong reputation for our wine dispensing repertoire.
While we are proud of our Brew City roots, we have also developed a strong reputation for our wine dispensing repertoire.
Perlick wine dispenser options
We know it is a delicate process to serve from a wine dispenser, and our “Wine Certified” tapping kits are designed to ensure that the wine’s fragile taste characteristics are preserved, and even enhanced in many cases.
Perlick Regional Sales Manager Corrinne Walenda knows her wine and is kind enough to share some of her expertise for this blog! Corrinne admits wine is very delicate and must be handled with care. “The main threats to the quality of wine are exposure to light, temperature swings, and oxidation. Having wine in stainless steel kegs eliminates all of these.
”Corrinne has been working with Perlick distributors, bar owners, and designers for years to help ensure every install is flawless and customized to a client’s specific needs. She has watched as bars and restaurants have evolved through the years, from corner beer bars to high-end wine lounges. Corrinne says if you own an establishment known for wine, having that wine available on tap just makes sense. “Wine on tap, yes wine in kegs, makes sense for many reasons: Cleanliness, speed of service, preservation of the wine quality and more.”
“The main threats to the quality of wine are exposure to light, temperature swings, and oxidation. Having wine in stainless steel kegs eliminates all of these.”
Corrinne Walenda, Perlick Regional Sales Manager
One of the things that sets Perlick apart is our “Wine Certified” Guarantee. Perlick's 630 series, forward sealing beer and wine faucets are unique in both appearance and function.
Perlick’s patented forward sealing faucet – the most sanitary faucet available. The forward sealing is all about cleanliness.
The tapper is NSF approved, and won’t taint the flavor of the beer or wine. A revolutionary ball and floating front seal design prevents the beverage from being exposed to air. As a result, the handle level will not stick, and there is no build-up of mold and bacteria in the faucet body. As Corrinne explains, this is in line with all Perlick products. “Our two superseding qualifications for all product design & manufacturing are sanitation & durability.
”We developed and tested our line of Sanitary 304 stainless steel components to ensure wine is perfectly preserved by the tap system and not impacted by lower-grade materials. Corrinne adds, “304 stainless steel components are what you want for wine on tap since wine has got a fair amount of acidity.
”Our Wine Certified Tapping Kits include all the components you need. Corrinne explains, “We have a Wine Dispensing Kit for direct draw use (meaning the wine tower is attached to the top refrigerated unit) and our sales engineers can help a customer design and create a remote dispensing system for wine. Our backbar refrigerators can be configured to hold the right wine temperature as determined by the customer. Reds are usually served at 60F; white wines at 45F.
”We are living in a challenging time, with COVID-19 changing the way we all do business. With decreased customer volume in bars and restaurants, Corrinne points out that wine preservation is more important than ever. She notes, “How long does an open bottle last in your home? 30 minutes in my house!
Seriously though, an opened bottle of wine will only stay fresh for a day or so, even when refrigerated. A keg of wine stays fresh for up to 90 days once tapped. In addition, each stainless steel keg of wine holds the equivalent of 26 bottles of wine. Wine on tap saves space and labor, all while offering a fresh glass of wine served at the perfect temperature every time.
”In addition, Perlick Dual Zone Refrigeration ensures you can properly store and dispense wine at two separate temperatures in the same cabinet. Everything is customizable to suit your specific needs.
Corrinne knows her wine, and she promises us that tap wine is just as good, if not even better, than wine poured from the almighty bottle.
Finally, many wine purists may worry that the tap experience will never be as good as uncorking that beautiful bottle. Like we said, Corrinne knows her wine, and she promises us that tap wine is just as good, if not even better, than wine poured from the almighty bottle. “Absolutely! Wine is usually ‘pushed’ out of a keg using Guinness Gas (AKA Bev Gas) which is 75% Nitrogen and 25% CO2. The carbon dioxide does not add any carbonation but rather preserves the aromatics and acts as an aerator while dispensing the wine, giving it a bit more ‘life’.”
If you want to learn more about wine dispensing, check out Perlick.com or email info@freeflowwines.com!
ABOUT STEPH GRAHM
Steph Graham is a Marketing Generalist at Perlick Corporation headquartered in Milwaukee. Steph began her career as a Television News Reporter and Producer and loves telling stories of how Perlick products help bring people together! Family owned since 1917, Perlick provides innovative and customizable food and beverage storage and serving solutions.