Are you struggling to pick the best wine fermenter for your needs? Many wineries face big issues with wrong fermenters. Bad picks can hurt wine taste, waste money, and cause spoiled batches. With so many types to pick from – stainless steel, oak, concrete, and plastic – how do you know which is best?

The Pain Gets Worse

Think about what happens with the wrong fermenter. Your wine might taste bad. You might waste thousands of dollars. The wrong tank can make your wine too hot or too cold. It might let in too much air or not enough. And cleaning problems can ruin whole batches! The fermenter choice you make now will affect your wine for years.

Micet Wine Fermenters

Micet has the answer to your wine fermenter needs. With over 15 years making top brewery equipment, we have helped set up more than 1000 breweries and wineries in 86 countries. Our wine fermenter line has options for all sizes and types of wine making. Let us help you pick the right one!

What Are Wine Fermenters?

Wine fermenters are big tanks where grape juice turns into wine. Yeast eats the sugar and makes alcohol. The fermenter keeps the wine safe while this happens.

Good fermenters must:

Keep the right heat
Keep bad bugs out
Let winemakers check the wine
Help with stirring and mixing
Last a long time

Types of Wine Fermenters

Stainless Steel Fermenters

Stainless steel tanks are most popular. They make up 65% of the market share in 2024. These tanks have many good points:

They are very clean
They can last 30+ years
They keep heat steady
They don’t add any odd tastes
They let you see inside with tools

The Jordan Winery case shows that stainless steel tanks with cooling can keep heat changes to just ±0.5°C. This helped them get 15% more wine from the same grapes.

Our 500L Brewery Equipment line has some of the best stainless steel tanks you can buy.

Oak Barrel Fermenters

Oak adds rich tastes to wine. The Domaine Leflaive case shows that wines made in oak barrels sold for 18% more money at auctions.

Oak barrel good points:

Add vanilla and spice tastes
Have a classic look
Give wine more depth

Oak barrel bad points:

Only last 5-7 years
Cost more to keep clean
Harder to check the wine

What are the best barrels for winemaking? — Oak Barrel Fermenters

Concrete Egg Fermenters

Concrete eggs are the new trend. A study shows 32% of small US wineries now use them (up from 18% in 2019).

Concrete good points:

Let in tiny bits of air (good for taste)
Keep heat very steady
Make wine have better “feel” in mouth

The Château Montelena case shows that concrete eggs helped the second part of wine making happen 22% faster. The wine also had a better feel in the mouth.

Plastic/Flexible Fermenters

Plastic tanks cost less to start. But be careful! A study shows that dirty plastic tanks have a 27% chance of bad bugs, while stainless steel only has an 8% risk.

Plastic good points:

Low cost to buy
Light weight
Easy to move

Plastic bad points:

Don’t last as long
Can let air in when you don’t want it
Harder to clean well

How to Choose the Right Wine Fermenter

Key Factors

1. Batch Size

How much wine will you make? This is the first big question. Micet makes wine fermenters for any size, from small home batches to big business needs.

Small makers: Try our 200L Brewery Equipment
Mid-size: Check out 500L to 2000L tanks
Big makers: Our big tanks can hold 5000L or more

2. Material Impact on Wine Style

The tank type changes how your wine tastes:

Wine Type	Best Fermenter	Why
Bold Reds	Oak or Concrete	Adds depth, helps tannins
Crisp Whites	Stainless Steel	Keeps fresh fruit taste
Complex Whites	Concrete Eggs	Adds rich mouth feel
Fast-to-Market Wine	Stainless Steel	Quick, clean process

3. Temperature Control Needs

Heat control is key for good wine. UC Davis found that stainless steel with cooling uses 20% less power than concrete. This means:

Lower bills
More steady heat
Better wine taste
Less waste

4. Budget Considerations

Think about the long term, not just today’s cost:

Stainless steel: More money up front, but lasts 30+ years
Oak: Mid-cost to start, but needs new barrels every 5-7 years
Concrete: High cost to start, but very long life
Plastic: Low cost to start, but short life and more risk

Best Practices for Using Wine Fermenters

Fermentation Setup

Start clean for good wine. Use these steps:

Wash all parts with no-rinse cleaner
Rinse with clean water
Check all seals and gaskets
Test all valves and taps
Cool the tank before adding juice

Pro tip: New CIP (Clean-in-Place) systems use 40% less water than hand cleaning.

During Fermentation

Check your wine every day. Look for:

Bubbles – shows yeast is working
Heat – keep reds at 20-30°C, whites at 10-18°C
Cap on red wines – push down twice a day
Smells – bad smells need quick action

Real fact: 42% of EU wineries now use smart tools to check wine heat and other things.

Post-Fermentation

When the wine is done, you must:

Rack the wine (move it off solids)
Clean the tank right away
Check for any damage
Store the tank clean and dry

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t make these big errors:

Skipping cleaning steps – Just one dirty spot can ruin wine
Not checking heat – Too hot kills yeast; too cold stops it
Wrong tank size – Too big means too much air
Poor seals – Air leaks make bad wine
Waiting to clean – Hard dried wine is very hard to clean

Advanced Techniques & Innovations

The wine world keeps changing. New methods include:

Clay fermenters – Growing 8% each year for mineral notes
Smart sensors – Check wine 24/7 without opening tanks
Special shapes – New tank designs help mix wine better
CO₂ capture – New tanks can catch this gas for other uses

Top Wine Fermenter Brands

Premium Tier

Bucher Vaslin – Best for big wineries
Nomblot – Known for egg-shaped concrete
Micet – Custom solutions for any winery size

Budget Tier

The Vintner’s Vault
Fermentis
Micet Economy Line – Quality at lower cost

Why Choose Micet for Your Wine Fermenters?

Micet solves all your wine making equipment needs. Here’s why we stand out:

15+ years making top wine and beer equipment
12 service centers around the world (France, Australia, Canada, and more)
3-year warranty on all tanks (most brands only give 1 year)
Custom designs made just for your needs
Full support from first call to years after sale

Our team, led by CEO Nancy with 15 years of sales know-how, works hard to make sure you get the right tools. Our quality team has 11 years checking every tank. Our service team has 22 years of know-how.

We’ve helped set up over 1000 breweries and wineries in 86 countries. Our clients say our tanks beat all others for quality and life span.

FAQs About Wine Fermenters

Can I reuse wine fermenters for different batches?

Yes! With good cleaning, you can use the same tank for many years and many kinds of wine.

Stainless steel vs. oak: Which is better for red wine?

Both work well. Stainless gives clean fruit taste. Oak adds depth and spice notes. Many wineries use both.

How to clean fermenters?

Use no-rinse cleaners made for wine. CIP systems work best for big tanks. Small tanks can be hand-cleaned.

How long do wine fermenters last?

Stainless steel: 30+ years
Concrete: 20+ years
Oak: 5-7 years
Plastic: 3-5 years

Can Micet design custom fermenters?

Yes! We love making custom tanks. Tell us what you need, and we’ll build it.

Ready to Find Your Perfect Wine Fermenter?

Don’t let the wrong fermenter hurt your wine. Micet has the right tank for you, no matter your size or style.

Contact us today to:

Get a free quote
Talk to our wine tank experts
See our full line of wine making tools
Learn about our 3-year warranty

Your great wine starts with the right fermenter. Let Micet help.

Click here to see our Wine Fermenter line and start making better wine today!

Wine Fermenters Infographic

Wine Fermenters: Key Insights

Stainless Steel

65% market share
30+ year lifespan

Oak Barrels

18% higher prices
5-7 year lifespan

Finding the Right Wine Fermenter